The Selfless Mind - Personality, Consciousness and Nirvana in Early Buddhism

This careful analysis of early Buddhist thought opens out a perspective in which no permanent Self is accepted, but a rich analysis of changing and potent mental processes is developed. It explores issues relating to the not-Self teaching: self-development, moral responsibility, the between-lives period, and the ''undetermined questions'' on the world, on the ''life principle'' and on the liberated one after death. It examines the ''person'' as a flowing continuity centred on consciousness or discernment (vinnana) configured in changing minds-sets (cittas). The resting state of this is seen as ''brightly shining'' - like the ''Buddha nature'' of Mahayana thought - so as to represent the potential for Nirvana. Nirvana is then shown to be a state in which consciousness transcends all objects, and thus participates in a timeless, unconditioned realm.