Reference: Postulate Mechanics (PM)
The concepts of soul, thetan and atman imply that there is an aspect of “I” that does not change because it is permanent and eternal. There is an assumption that the “I”, which existed in some past life incident is the same “I” that exists now.
It is quite possible that the impression of some incident experienced by an ancestor has been passed down to us through DNA. When that impression is activated by us, and we re-experience it, we confuse the “I” in that incident to be the current “I” re-experiencing that incident.
The Doctrine of No-Soul: Anatta points out the falsity of this assumption that there is an aspect of “I” that is permanent and outlasts the death of a person.
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Sense of “I”
The “I” is sensed as the thinker of thoughts, feeler of sensations, and receiver of rewards and punishments for all its actions good and bad. This sense seems to be generated with the body. It implies individuality.
There is no doubt that this sense of “I” is there. It produces harmful thoughts of ‘me’ and ‘mine’, selfish desire, craving, attachment, hatred, ill-will, conceit, pride, egoism, and other defilements, impurities and problems. It is the source of all the troubles in the world from personal conflicts to wars between nations. But, there is no evidence that this sense of individuality continues after the death of the body.
A newly born baby has its own sense of “I”. Of course, this sense may get built to some degree through DNA inheritance. It may also get conditioned by its home and social environment. But it also retains its own individual characteristics. There is definitely a contagion of aberration, so the evil in the world continues from one generation to the next. But there is no evidence of a permanent “I” that continues from one life to the next.
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DNA and Environmental Factors
A parent’s life experiences can influence gene expression in the next generation by altering epigenetic marks in germ cells and the developmental environment, which then changes how the offspring’s genes are read—without changing the underlying DNA sequence. This affects stress hormone signaling, metabolic pathways, brain circuits for fear, anxiety, and reward, and Immune system regulation. Such effects can persist for multiple generations. A large part of “inherited trauma” or family patterns comes from behavioral, cultural, and environmental transmission, not just epigenetics.
Addressing traumas is the area of Dianetics, which claims that the earliest trauma can occur during the gestation period in the womb or in the process of birth. Traumatic impressions passed through epigenetics have also been discovered in Dianetics. All such impressions influence the sense of “I”.
This is consistent with the notion of karmic influences that are said to dissipate automatically after several generations. But none of that provides the proof for the individual “I” being eternal.
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The Postulate of “I”
According to Buddha, the idea of self-preservation is psychologically deep-rooted in a person. So, the idea of an immortal Soul or Atman, which will live eternally, is very attractive to him. In his ignorance, weakness, fear, and desire, he needs this belief to console himself.
As one engages with the process of “neti, neti” it becomes quite obvious that the notion of soul, thetan or Atman being eternal is just a postulate.
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The Non-“I”
According to Buddha’s teaching, the individual is composed of the Five Aggregates: matter, sensations, perceptions, mental formations and consciousness. There is nothing behind them which can be taken as “I”, Atman, or Self, or any unchanging abiding substance. Furthermore, everything is conditioned, relative, and interdependent, and nothing in the world is absolute. Accordingly, the idea of self or being, is useful by convention only; but not in reality or substance.
No doubt, we are aware of substantiality. The substantiality constitutes of matter, energy and thought. Awareness does not lie in the dimension of substantiality, because awareness is looking at substantiality. Awareness is its own dimension. In that dimension there is no substantiality of individuality. There is no introversion.
The sense of individuality and introversion arises only when there is identification with the dimension of substantiality.
Enlightenment occurs when one clears up the misconception of “I”. This is the beginning of Nirvana.
As one continues to clear other misconceptions about the universe, Nirvana expands.
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