What does "self" mean?

Upvote:1

The fear about questions about self is misplaced. What is intended by that admonition is refraining from speculations about the origin or destiny, or existence or non-existence of a self.

What the questioner is asking, I believe, is the definition in Buddhism of Self, and that is a legitimate question to ask and answer.

The answer is that it is that which one believes is under one's control (the scope goes beyond the individual body; usually expressed as 'self or what relates to self'). And further, though it is description by negative, it is the idea that a self under one's control would not suffer pain or come to an end.

The Dhamma points out that there is only one thing that is under one's control, and that is one's acts of mind, speech or body. The outcome of one's acts, however, is out of one's control.

Mike Olds 11

📝 Is there a difference between the 32 physical characteristics and the the 32 physical marks?
📝 Can you do labeling and tai chi?
📝 Doubt regarding correct meditation technique
📝 Is drinking coffee or tea against the fifth precept?
📝 What is the "sensual desire" fetter?
📝 Can karma operate at the level of groups i.e. collectively?
📝 Is there a compendium of enlightenment stories (about Arhats and/or Bodhisattvas)?
📝 Vipassana meditation comes naturally; Samatha meditation incredibly hard.
📝 What happens to grasping at 'self' after termination of life?
📝 Do all good and/or all pleasant intentions have pleasant outcomes for one/or another?
📝 Where does the Buddha say 'you will be punished by your anger'?
📝 What are the teachings in Buddhism for good social Social Health?
📝 What meditation is best to learn to "control" your mind?
📝 Consciousness and Name-Form
📝 Annoyed when talking about generosity, stingy -- would one ever be able to grow in Dhamma?
📝 Why buddhists love staying in hills?
📝 Buddha Sasana of Ariya Maitreya Buddha
📝 Need help understanding this
📝 Four kinds of people. "attahitaya ca patipanno". Good for yourself and others
📝 Does the actions of one's ancestors pass down?
📝 Does any modern Buddhist tradition use a Gregorian holiday schedule?
📝 Happiness for laypeople
📝 Dualism of mind and matter in Buddhism
📝 Buddha referring to himself
📝 What would you say about being overly optimistic or overly pessimistic about the ways of approaching the path?
📝 What is a good response when some-one says 'sadhu' to you?
📝 Right action when being lied to
📝 What is Dharma?
📝 Is there a sanskrit translation of the Pali tipitaka online?
📝 Killing a parent and killing a foster parent

Source: stackoverflow.com

Travel Tips

Search Posts

📝 What does it mean to 'advert' to the factors of jhana after emerging from jhana?
📝 What does the Buddha mean by this quote? "There is no punishment for anger. It is the anger which will punish you."
📝 What does "Namaste" mean in Buddhism context and why is it even associated with Buddhism?
📝 What does it mean to find a teacher?
📝 What does 'passing away of dhamma' mean in Satipatthana sutta?
📝 What does Bhikkhu Bodhi mean by "mind objects"?
📝 What does the word "world" mean in the Buddhist context?
📝 What does it mean by perfect morality?
📝 What does "joy" mean in the phrase "dharma gate of great ease and joy"
📝 What does 'awareness of the flow' mean
📝 What does it mean to be upright?
📝 What does Samsara mean to Buddhists? How is it meaningful?
📝 What does "heard" mean in "I allow fish and meat that is pure in three respects: One has not seen, heard, or suspected..."
📝 What does "abandoned for no future renewed existence" mean in this sutta?
📝 What does "ease" mean in the phrase "dharma gate of ease and joy"?
📝 What does "Nothing like anything" mean according to Buddism?
📝 What does it mean by 'All beings have a Buddha nature'?
📝 What does 'Ignorance' mean in Dependent Co-Arising?
📝 What does it mean in Bhikkhu Bodhi's *Life of the Buddha* when he describes Maha Maya as being possessed of the five kāmaguṇa
📝 What does random Images flashing during mediation mean ,if anything at all?
📝 What does "becoming" mean in the phrase "the 10 fetters of becoming"?
📝 What does the word Bodhi mean etymologically?
📝 What does celestial mean in 'celestial bodhisattva'
📝 What does pari-mukha mean in 16 APS anapana sati?
📝 What does "has students" and "has teacher" mean in this sutta?
📝 What does "break-up of the body after death" mean in the suttas?
📝 Visions of Hell Realm in Contemplation- What does it mean
📝 What does "sandhāvitvā saṃsaritvā" mean in AN 9.12?
📝 What does Buddha mean with '' to not sacrifice one's life for another' (Dhp 166)?
📝 What does Buddhism literature and tradition say about transgender folks?

What does "self" mean?

More post

Search Posts

Related post