Single Idea 7906

[catalogued under 16. Persons / E. Rejecting the Self / 4. Denial of the Self]

Full Idea

The great Buddha passed through the eight stages of Transic insight, and quickly reached their highest point. From the summit of the world downwards he could detect no self anywhere.

Gist of Idea

When the Buddha reached the highest level of insight, he could detect no self in the world

Source

Ashvaghosha (Buddhacarita [c.50], XIV)

Book Reference

'Buddhist Scriptures', ed/tr. Conze,Edward [Penguin 1959], p.50


A Reaction

In the manner of Nietzsche, I am inclined to say that they find what they want to find, because that is their value. They want to get rid of the self, and dream of a mode in which existence continues without it. Is Buddhism opposed to human life?