Not-Self

　　无 我

When one does not understand death, life can be very confusing. If our body really belonged to us, it would obey our commands. If we say, "Don't get old," or "I forbid you to get sick," does it obey us? No, it takes no notice. We only rent this house, not own it. If we think it belongs to us, we will suffer when we have to leave it. But in reality, there is no such thing as a permanent self, nothing solid or unchanging that we can hold on to.

　　当一个人不了解死亡时，生活会非常烦恼。如果我们的身体真的属於我们，就会听从我们的命令。如果我们说：“不可以变老。”或者说：“我不许你生病。”它会听我们的吗?不，它毫不听从，我们只是租这栋房子，而不是拥有它。如果我们认为它是属於我们的，当我们必须离开时就会感到痛苦了。而事实上，根本没有一个永恒的自我，没有一样坚固、不变的东西是我们可以掌握得住的。

Buddha made a distinction between ultimate truth and conventional truth. The idea of a self is merely a concept, a convention-American, Thai, teacher, student, all are conventions. Ultimately no one exists, only earth, fire, water, and air-elements that have combined temporarily. We call the body a person, my self, but ultimately there is no me, there is only anatta, not-self. To understand not-self, you have to meditate. If you only intellectualize, your head will explode. Once you understand not-self in your heart, the burden of life will be lifted. Your family life, your work, everything will be much easier. When you see beyond self, you no longer cling to happiness, and when you no longer cling to happiness, you can begin to be truly happy.

　　佛陀对胜义的真理和世俗的真理做了区分。“我”的观念只是一种概念、一种约定俗成的。如同：美国人、泰国人、老师、学生，都是约定俗成的。根本没有“人”的存在，有的只是地、水、火、风──暂时组合的元素罢了!我们将这个身体叫做一个人、自己，而事实上根本没有“我”，只有“无我”。要了解无我，你就得禅坐，如果你光用思考的话，你的头会爆炸的。一旦你打从心中领悟到无我，生命的重担就会解除，你的家庭生活、工作，每一件事都将会轻松多了。当你超越了自我，就不会再执著於快乐。而当你不再执著於快乐时，你才能开始真正的快乐。