The Buddha taught that there is no “soul”, no essential and permanent
core to a living being. Instead, that which we call a “living being”,
human or otherwise, can be seen to be but a temporary coming-together of
many parts and activities””when complete it is called a “living being”,
but when the parts have separated and the activities have ceased it is
not called a “living being” anymore. Like a computer assembled of many
parts and activities, only when it is complete and performs coherent
tasks is it called a “computer”, but when the computer is taken apart
and the activities cease it is no longer called a “computer”. No
essential and permanent core can be found which we can truly call the
“com-pu-ter”, and just so no essential and permanent core can be found
in a living being which we can call the “soul”.
Similarly, human beings are composed of mind and matter. Matter, or our
physical bodies, are comprised of solids, liquids and gas. It is a very
complex structure developed over a long process of evolution but is by
no means perfect as it is subject to aging; it is fragile and is subject
to all kinds of diseases and illnesses. The Buddha taught that our mind
is also comprised of several components such as consciousness, memory,
feelings and mental constructs. However, when all these are working
together we think that we exist separately and independently in the same
way we viewed the computer above. This gives rise to the illusion of a
“soul” which manifests as the “ego”. All of mankind is deluded by this
illusion within us. This is a unique insight taught by the Buddha and
its understanding frees us from the selfish, self-centered demands
issued by our ego.
Indeed, the illusion of a “soul” is said by the Buddha to be the root
cause of all human suffering. The natural, unstoppable function of the
ego is to control. Big egos want to control the world, average egos try
to control their immediate surroundings of home, family and work place,
and all egos strive to control what they take to be their own body and
mind. Such control manifests as desire and aversion, and it results in a
lack of both inner peace and outer harmony. It is this ego that seeks
to acquire possessions, manipulate others and exploit the environment.
Its aim is its own happiness but it invariably produces suffering. It
craves for satisfaction but experiences discontent. Such deep-rooted
suffering cannot come to an end until one sees, through insight based on
deep and powerful meditation, that the idea of “me and mine” is no more
than a mirage.
Even though many religions speak of a permanent unchanging soul, giving
the matter deeper thought will indicate that this theory is highly
unlikely. What can the soul be made of? If the so-called soul is able to
enjoy the pleasures of the senses in a heaven, then it’ll be required
to be made of some form of matter. And we know that matter can be
destroyed, one way or another. If the soul is not matter but some form
of energy, then again it can be captured and manipulated. In any case,
there has not been a shred of evidence of such a thing as a soul.
Yet rebirth still occurs without a “soul”. Consider this simile: on a
Buddhist shrine a candle is burnt low and is about to go out. A monk
takes a new candle and lights it from the old one. The old candle goes
out but the new candle burns bright. What went across from the old
candle to the new? There was a cause and an effect, a link but no
“thing” went across! In the same way, there was a causal link between
your previous life and your present life, but no “soul” went across. If
you wish to understand further the phenomenon of Rebirth, go here.
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