8. Non-self (no eternal, unchanging soul)

Only Buddhism teaches this idea of non-self. The non-self belief is peculiar to Buddhism and it was the Buddha who was the first to come across this idea. Before that, even nowadays, most people are still firmly attached to the idea of a permanent self or soul. This belief is clung to by most religions. Buddhism, alone, teaches that there is no permanent entity. This is called the theory of non-self.

The commentaries explained that some other teachers before the Buddha’s time had taught impermanence and suffering, so these beliefs were already available, however no religion proclaimed non-self except Buddhism which teaches the truths about attachment and it stresses the wisdom needed to realise the truth of all things which arise interdependently from many things, according to their nature. Non-self teaching gives rise to a human being’s ability to understand the reality of all things; living beings or non-living beings, and detach them from their desire. Buddhist teaching gives mankind right understanding as to the fact that all things are not under our own control, we cannot have everything the way we want it. Instead all things depend on their kamma (action, or the law of cause and effect.)

The idea of non-self connects us to the reality of all things and breaks any wrong views. In order to understand this teaching of non-self, mankind has to commit itself to learning and practising according to the truths of all things. Those, who realise that, can detach themselves from wrong views and, as was said above, enter the ultimate goal of Buddhism, or pure realisation.