I Still Don't Know What I'm Talking About

Here's my primer in Buddhism . . .  So old, but not as old as Hinduism, of which it's an offshoot.  One of the main differences is that Hinduism is god-based, more or less, while Buddhism is more of a philosophy of self

Anatta literally means “not-self” or “absence of self.”  It denies the existence of a permanent, unchanging, independent self or soul (ātman), which many other Indian traditions (like Hinduism) affirm.  Instead, what we call a “person” is a collection of constantly changing physical and mental processes.  

Freedom from Attachment – Believing in a fixed self fuels craving, ego, and suffering. Realizing anatta helps loosen that grip.  

Impermanence (anicca) – Since everything is changing, there can’t be a permanent self.  

Suffering (dukkha) – Clinging to a false sense of self causes dissatisfaction.   

Together with anicca (impermanence) and dukkha (suffering), anatta forms the Three Marks of Existence in the Buddhist philosophy.

The “Flame” Analogy is a good way to visualize the difference between Buddhism and Hinduism

Hinduism: The same flame (soul) continues, unchanged.

Buddhism: A new flame is lit from the old one — continuity without identity.

It's interesting in my life how I provide some form of comfort and inspiration to different people and how they provide these things to me.  I'll write something or ponder something else and I'll think: "I bet so-and-so would be interested in this."  It's reminiscent of the times when I share a crap share at a meeting and someone tells me how much they identified with what I have said.