anatman

1 9.9

A Buddhist idea that people do not have a permanent self or soul

noun
/ˈænətˌmɑn/

Specialized

: anatman

Characteristic of these early Mahayana texts is the expression, "matter is emptiness and the very emptiness is matter," in which the negation expressed by the concept of anatman extends far beyond the denial of the self of persons.
the doctrine of anatman

Examples

While Brahmanism links the ultimate Brahman with the self, Buddhism's rejection of God is linked to the doctrine of anatman, the radical denial of self.

Academic text (1999)
Understanding anatman is essential for grasping the core of Buddhist philosophy, which denies the existence of an eternal soul.
The early doctrine of anatman or "no-self" anticipated the later Mahayana understanding of emptiness in germinal form.

Academic text (1999)
The concept of anatman teaches that the self is a temporary collection of experiences rather than a permanent entity.
In Buddhism, anatman challenges the belief in a fixed identity and emphasizes the fluidity of existence.

Synonyms

anatta

vsanatman

Specialized

1 9.9

The idea that people have no permanent self or soul

is the same doctrine expressed with a different traditional term

nonself

vsanatman

Jargon

1 9.9

The Buddhist idea that a person has no permanent self

applies the same teaching more broadly to living beings rather than a single person

Surface Forms

anatman singular

anatmans plural

Etymology

Anatman comes from Sanskrit parts an- meaning 'not' and atman meaning 'self' or 'soul'. So anatman literally means 'not-self' and names the Buddhist idea that there is no single, never-changing self inside a person.