Understanding the Truth of Not-Self
Briefing Document: Review of Excerpts from “No ‘I’”
Date: October 27, 2023
Subject: Review of excerpts from the text “No ‘I’”, exploring core Buddhist concepts of “not-self” (annatā), truth (sacca), and perfection (parami).
Key Themes and Ideas:
The provided excerpts delve deeply into the fundamental Buddhist concept of “annatā” or “not-self,” emphasizing its central role in realizing the nature of reality. The text highlights the interconnectedness of understanding (paññā), truth (sacca), and perfection (parami) as the path to realizing this truth. The discussion repeatedly circles back to the present moment as the sole object of true understanding and the difficulty of moving beyond conceptual knowledge to a lived understanding of “no ‘I’”.
Most Important Ideas/Facts:
- Annatā (Not-Self) as the Core Truth: The foundational premise is that all realities, or “dhammas,” are inherently “annatā” (not-self) and unsatisfactory. Realizing this truth is the ultimate goal of the path.
- Quote: “So the truth is that there are just dhammas, realities that are annatā (not-self) and unsatisfactory, and the way to realise this is to develop the path, the development of understanding.”
- The Present Moment is the Object of Understanding: True understanding can only arise in relation to what appears now. Theoretical knowledge or future contemplation is insufficient.
- Quote: “Yes, and all about what we are talking about, is now. So pañña, understands the truth of how much understanding of this moment of whatever appears now.”
- Quote: “Because as we hear again and again, we know that the only object of right understanding is what appears now. So this should mean, it’s this moment that what should be understood is this moment.”
- Sacca (Truth) and Sacca Parami (Perfection of Truth): Sacca refers to the truth of reality as it is. Sacca parami is the perfection of this truth, which is inextricably linked to understanding. It’s not about having the “right answer” conceptually, but a firm understanding of the reality.
- Quote: “That is sacca parami (perfection of truth).”
- Quote: “If there’s no understanding of this moment is there sacca? Is that true, is that the truth? The ‘I’ is there, ignorance is there.”
- Quote: “That is sacca parami when the answer is sacca, the truth of it.”
- Quote: “If one asks should we try and when the answer is no me, no ‘I’ the person who asks knows how much one understands. So Acharn should that you were saying earlier can be referenced to firm understanding that it’s only this moment that can be the object of understanding.”
- Understanding is Paññā (Wisdom): Paññā is the understanding that facilitates the realization of “not-self”. All “paramis” (perfections) are aspects of paññā.
- Quote: “So all paramis are paññā in all aspects.”
- The Difficulty of Truly Understanding “No ‘I’”: Merely stating “no ‘I’” or having the conceptual answer is not sufficient. True understanding requires a deep, firm realization that transcends intellectual knowledge. The presence of “I” and ignorance indicates a lack of this understanding.
- Quote: “Acharn, even the word sacca is very hard to understand and we have our own ideas about what it is. And it’s not like after we’ve heard there will be understanding, but it just takes time, as understanding develops like any other reality.”
- Quote: “Even the word no ‘I’ is it sacca? Acharn, if there’s no sacca, then one would think that one understands no ‘I’ already but even when we say that there’s no understanding, we’re not sure if it is sacca there or it’s just another something else.”
- Quote: “So just say no self is there any understanding? Probably not. Firm enough, see, so it’s not sacca when it’s not understanding…”
- Quote: “Even the answer no ‘I’ is not enough, so what is it, see, to be firm that it’s no ‘I’? Not only the word no ‘I’ but what is it so it is no ‘I’ not me.”
- The Nature of Reality Supports “No ‘I’”: The impermanent nature of reality, where each moment arises and falls away, inherently demonstrates the absence of a lasting, controllable self.
- Quote: “What appears now arises and falls away, is that true? Even it does not appear yet, but is it true? That is sacca parami when the answer is sacca, the truth of it.”
- Quote: “Because it ends every moment, so how can there be ‘I’?”
- Quote: “There is not me last life, there cannot be me next life so no ‘I’ even right now from moment to moment.”
- Trying to Understand is Problematic: The very act of “trying” implies a “self” that is doing the trying. True understanding arises depending on conditions, not through forceful effort driven by the idea of an “I”.
- Quote: “Should we try to understand? When it’s the right answer, it is sacca parami. Well it’s understanding but the right answer, just getting the right answer doesn’t necessarily mean understanding does it? See, no one, no ‘I’ , the answer is no ‘I’ even the question is should we try, no ‘I’ is sacca parami.”
- Quote: “One might be taught to try very hard to do or to understand. See, that cannot be sacca. It cannot be sacca parami because actually, no ‘I’.”
Summary:
The excerpts from “No ‘I’” present a rigorous exploration of the Buddhist concept of “not-self” (annatā). The text emphasizes that true realization of this truth comes through the development of understanding (paññā) in relation to the present moment. It distinguishes between intellectual knowledge of “no ‘I’” and a firm, lived understanding, highlighting the difficulty in overcoming the ingrained sense of a self. The impermanent nature of reality is presented as evidence for the absence of a lasting “I”, and the inherent problem with “trying” to understand from the perspective of a self is discussed. Ultimately, the text underscores that sacca parami, the perfection of truth, lies in the developing understanding of “no ‘I’” as it manifests in the reality of each fleeting moment.