Historical Buddha
Ancient northern Indian subcontinent
Teachings attributed to the Buddha connect suffering with clinging and analyse persons as sets of processes.
Historical context
The teachings were transmitted orally and preserved in different collections. Philosophical reading distinguishes the historical teacher, the discourses attributed to him, and the later development of schools.
Overview
The analysis of the aggregates examines body, feelings, and other changing processes. Connecting suffering with clinging helps explain why treating changing things as stable possessions can intensify distress.
Main claims
Clinging contributes to suffering, and the changing aggregates do not constitute a permanent self.
Permanent self
The doctrine of non-self rejects identifying changing aggregates with a permanent self.
Interpretation for comparison · Buddha · Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Clinging and suffering
The analysis of suffering connects its arising to craving and clinging.
Interpretation for comparison · Buddha · Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Debates and nuances
Buddhist schools developed differing accounts of continuity and the doctrine of no-self.
The assessment compares only the positions documented in this entry.