Is my body eternal?

Eternalism in Buddhism (shâshvata) is not meant to suggest that the Buddha denied the self or atman.  In plain, words, eternalism is not just belief in a self or atman.  More specifically, an eternalist is one who believes that the Five Aggregates (khandhas/skandha) are eternal.  For example, an eternalist believes the first aggregate, material form or rupa, is the self and the world, both of which are eternal.  This passage clarifies eternalism.   

“They declare material form to be the self and the world, stating such to be not only the self and the world but also eternal; they declare sensation ... perception ... the formations ... consciousness to be the self and the world, stating such to be not only the self and the world but also eternal” (trans. Masefiled, The Udana Commentary, p. 882).

This is not a rejection of self, not in the context of how we are rightly to regard our self and the Five Aggregates.  Above all, the Buddha doesn’t want us to believe that our self is an aggregate.  As he teaches, all the Five Aggregates are, in fact, not the self or in Pali, anattâ.

Monks, form is not the self (anattâ).  What is not the self should be see as it really is with correct wisdom thus:  ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self (attâ).’  Feeling is not the self ... Perception is not the self ... Habitual tendencies are not the self ... Consciousness is not the self.  What is not the self should be seen as it really is with correct wisdom:  ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my  self’” (S. iii. 22-23).

The eternalist rejects this.  For the eternalist, form is the self or atman including the world both being eternal.  The eternalist is really saying, in regards to the aggregates, this is mine, I am this, this is my self.  This is much different from the usual spin of some Buddhists who want their followers to believe the Buddha denied the self calling those who believed in the self, eternalists.  It is not that simple.  The Buddha’s teaching was against those who believed the self was the Five Aggregates and those who believed there is no self or nattha attâ, who were the annihilationists.

 

Comments

[java junkie]

sassatavada is perpetual-ism not eternslism

this zen and buddhist crap is rotting yer brain old coot

study some platonism boy

[Guyatree]

"For the eternalist, form is the self or atman including the world both being eternal." That is clear, and could be clearer still should you post the names of a few prominent eternalists, so one may read their statements directly, please.

Thank you

@guyatree

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