More and more I am wondering how accurate the Buddhist notion of annata, or “no self,” really is in the context of Buddhist philosophy and ethics. Metaphysically, it can make sense to attribute some beings as not a part of our conventional understanding of a self; after all, the self/other dichotomy in all its forms is our most common and prevalent view of reality. However, if the notion of “no self” in Buddhist literature is supposed to act as a guide toward understanding interconnectedness between all beings, than might it make more sense to consider this new self a rich and “expansive” self, rather than an empty one? And if this “expansive self” is a more accurate description than “no self,” perhaps anatta should be appreciated more as a stepping stone to truth (or even a thought experiment), rather than an accurate explanation of reality [1].
If it is metaphysically true that no self exists, then Buddhist ethics, free will, and karma seem to evaporate. To act selflessly would be to act without a mind and without intention. Yet, Buddhists often attribute the accumulation of karma to “right understanding” and “skillful volition” [2] – neither one possible without some self to process it’s environment and consciously act on it.
If I can truly act selflessly, then who or what accumulates karma for this deed? It can’t be me, since I don’t exist – so is it someone else? What if we had a Buddhist utopia and everyone acted selflessly – would any of us be conscious at all, or just cogs in a machine? In what other form can selflessness take besides self-annihilation – a rejection of consciousness itself – which, taken to its logical extreme, sounds principally anti-Buddhist.
Buddha never specified whether or not a self does or doesn’t exist. He refused to answer the question, presumably because it gave power to the self/other dichotomy, which he consider illusory and the source of all suffering.
I admit by contemplating these things I am to some degree falling for this dichotomy myself, but I thought this was worth philosophizing about; I so often see people preach “no self” as the ultimate ideal, end-goal, or enlightenment of Buddhist practice, yet I find it to be misleading, nihilistic, and potentially self-destructive. At best “selflessness” is a concept that serves as a means to a goal – a technique, a strategy, a stage, or a stepping stone – not an end to be achieved. I think the idea of “selfless” is intended to break apart our conventional understandings of a self, not to be a claim of something that is true.
The problem with the self is that we often think of it too narrowly. It becomes a prison, instead of something expansive, creative, and resourceful. Helping others should be viewed first and foremost as not something self-less but something self-evolving. In this light, Buddhist morality – the drive to be compassionate and kind to others – becomes strengthened rather than diminished. Interconnectedness is the nature of the self, not selflessness.
Sources
[1] “Not self” as a strategy in Thanissaro Bhikkhu’s “No self or Not-self”
[2] The Theory of Karma by Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw
Many of you might be aware of comedian and actor Joe Rogan from the game show Fear Factor. It is also widely known among fans about his experimentation with psychedelic drugs like DMT, which is a naturally-occuring tryptamine in the human body, a neurotransmitter some speculate plays a role in mediating the visual effects of natural dreaming, near-death experiences, religious visions, and other mystical states.
Joe Rogan has also shared a video regarding his isolation tank, a device originally researched by physician, psychoanalyst and philosopher John C. Lilly in the 1950s. It was designed to test the effects of sensory deprivation on consciousness, and many find that this can replicate “psychedelic-like” experiences.
Here’s a great video of Rogan explaining how it works and how he uses it:
Using this device, researchers can enter into altered states of consciousness even while not under the influence of any drugs.
However, some still mix the effects of the isolation tank with psychedelic drugs like LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, or cannabis. The 1980 science fiction movie Altered States was based on some of John C. Lilly’s research using isolation tanks with ketamine, a dissociative anesthesia, and LSD. In the movie the man “devolves” back into an ape, but in the real world many psychonauts experiment with these kinds of methods to access different states of consciousness and possibly gain greater insight into themselves and reality.
In this other video you can find Joe Rogan giving away his old isolation tank and talking a little more about his experiences.
Please keep in mind that in most regions around the world having the possession of psychedelic drugs, as well as using them, can be a major criminal offense. Isolation tanks, however, are completely legal (as far as I know, you should probably double-check that before getting one).
There are three main things you need to consider when mimicking the effects of an isolation tank:
- The water needs to be as close as possible to the temperature of your skin.
- You need to put enough salt in the water so that your body floats without effort.
- You need to do it in a space that is as quiet and dark as possible. Keep in mind: the point is to be turning off your physical senses and focusing inwards.
Similar effects to isolation tanks and sensory deprivation can also be accomplished naturally through disciplined meditation practices. For example: Tibetan Dream Yoga , which requires one to reach a kind of “sensory deprivation” by putting the body to sleep but still keeping your mind awake – this is essentially a wake-induced lucid dream (WILD).
On a final note: I have never been one to tell someone how they should or shouldn’t treat their own body, as I believe we are each the sole authority over ourselves, and therefore we each reserve the right to choose what we consume or don’t consume. However, please keep in mind that there are some techniques in this article that may be frowned upon by various legal systems or societal values. Please, use your own discretion and good judgment, and do your research before making any decision about your body or using an isolation tank.