How do you define the self? (ritual, soul, creation, hell)

standing_on_one_foot · #1 09-19-2004, 11:33 PM

Or the soul, or whatever you happen to call it. What is "you"? Is it seperate from your body? From your mind? Completly connected, not seperate at all? Your emotions, your thoughts, your intellect, what?

Master Vigil · #2 09-20-2004, 08:26 AM

In the end, there is no self. The soul one possesses in only a part of the great puzzle peace that is Tao. It is separate, yet connected, it is your mind, but also your heart, and also your emotions. It is everything, it is the force that binds the pysical, and the force that destroys the idea of self to help achieve enlightenment.

cardero · #3 09-26-2004, 09:39 AM

What helps me to understand the human entity is that I identify it as a piece of space (land). But it is the only real physical property that we can actually call ourselves. I liken the human body as a house, a sometimes comfortable shelter a sometimes burdensome weight (I am, of course talking about waking up and aging), with utilities that are free but you still have to keep them up (I believe we all “renovate”). I don’t think that an honest soul encased in a human shell belongs exclusively to GOD or any one, I sincerely believe it belongs to everyONE-even through death.

Scott1 · #4 10-03-2004, 12:44 PM

363 In Sacred Scripture the term "soul" often refers to human life or the entire human person. But "soul" also refers to the innermost aspect of man, that which is of greatest value in him, that by which he is most especially in God's image: "soul" signifies the spiritual principle in man.

366 The Church teaches that every spiritual soul is created immediately by God - it is not "produced" by the parents - and also that it is immortal: it does not perish when it separates from the body at death, and it will be reunited with the body at the final Resurrection.

367 Sometimes the soul is distinguished from the spirit: St. Paul for instance prays that God may sanctify his people "wholly", with "spirit and soul and body" kept sound and blameless at the Lord's coming. The Church teaches that this distinction does not introduce a duality into the soul. "Spirit" signifies that from creation man is ordered to a supernatural end and that his soul can gratuitously be raised beyond all it deserves to communion with God.

Engyo · #5 10-03-2004, 07:06 PM

Buddha taught the concept of anatta, or no-self; meaning in simplest terms, that the self is illusory, and impermanent.

meogi · #6 10-03-2004, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engyo

Buddha taught the concept of anatta, or no-self; meaning in simplest terms, that the self is illusory, and impermanent.

Anatta, is that Japanese? The only thing close to it that I know of is anata, or 'you' (referring to someone else). Of course, it could be one of those in-sayings or words, like Nemu-amida-butsu or bhodisatva, which I'm assuming it is. Anyway, enlighten me please.

Quote:

Originally Posted by standing_on_one_foot

How do you define the self?

I am. That's all I really need to define it.

Engyo · #7 10-04-2004, 06:33 AM

Meogi -

Anatta is either Sanskrit or Pali, not sure which. So for that matter is Bodhisattva......

Master Vigil · #8 10-04-2004, 05:51 PM

Is anatta the same as anatman? That is what my religion books call it? I know atman is the self in hindu, but they also believe that everything is a part of brahma, therefore deleting the self, therefore buddha called it anatman. I'm sure its just the same thing as anatta, maybe just a different language?