Please refer to The Nature of Existence.
Each human being seems to have some idea of who he or she is; this we refer to as ego or “self.” At the core of this “self” we imagine something permanent and everlasting, which we refer to as “soul.”
But is there a soul that is permanent and everlasting? We are aware of this soul whenever we are aware. But, when we are not aware, we are simply not aware, and we do not know whether soul is there or not.
We cannot say with certainty if there is a permanent and everlasting soul underlying self.
Beginning talks about a cycle that begins, continues, and ends. Our awareness does follow this cycle because it begins, continues, and ends. And so, the soul may at least be seen as something that begins, continues, and ends.
Whether the soul exists beyond this cycle is unknowable.
Beingness (soul) and awareness seem to occur together. They are the essence of existence. There is no existence when there is neither beingness nor awareness. What, then, is the nature of being (self)?
A subject, such as, Physics, simply refers to a bundle of observations, ideas, conjectures, theories, principles, etc, which are related in some way. To understand physics we must understand that whole bundle. Similarly, we may regard a “being” as simply a reference to a bundle of related desires, intentions, thoughts, emotions, efforts, viewpoints, etc. To understand a being, we must understand that whole bundle.
This bundle of related desires, intentions, thoughts, emotions, efforts, viewpoints, etc., known as a being, seems to be in a flux, changing from moment to moment. What may seem to provide continuity are impressions that are changing more slowly.
A being is a bundle of related desires, intentions, thoughts, emotions, efforts, viewpoints, etc., which is manifested through a body.
The relative continuity of these impressions may seem to appear as the consciousness. This consciousness is likely to form the basis of the consideration that there is a permanent and everlasting soul. However, that would merely be a consideration.
The core of a being is a consciousness, which is made up of longer lasting impressions.
This consciousness seems to be longer lasting, though it still changes over time. Buddha regarded the consciousness that existed at the moment of death to form the basis of consciousness in another birth. But, according to Buddha, this consciousness could be extinguished within a lifetime eliminating the necessity of another birth.
The consciousness existing at the moment of death may pass into a new birth. It is possible to extinguish this consciousness. Then no more rebirths occur.
There can be many bodies, and different consciousness attached to different bodies. Thus, there are individuals with different individualities. The individuality is expressed as “I.”
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Summary
Extinguishing consciousness is known as the state of Nirvana in Buddhism. Actually, the idea of “self,” or “being,” is quite limiting as it seems to denote a finite viewpoint.
From Karen Armstrong’s book, BUDDHA: “As long as we persist in closing our minds and hearts to the universal pain, which surrounds us on all sides, we remain locked in an undeveloped version of ourselves, incapable of growth and spiritual insight.”
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