We find that, Buddhist doctrine of anatta is a necessary corollary to the teaching of Impermanence and Conflict. As we know, the five aggregates are not - self because they are found to be impermanence, non - eternality and having a beginning and end. The five aggregates are subject to suffering because of being oppressed by growth and decay and through being a cause of suffering. They are empty because of the absence of the owner, a tenant, a doer, or a feeler or a superintendent ; and not self. This is an interpretation of the three Characteristics [ Trilakhana ], which are stated in this formula :
" All component things are impermanent. All component things are suffering. All Dhammas are not self. "
Here it should be noted that in the first two sentence, the word " component things or sankhara " is used, but in its place in the third sentence, the word dhamma is used. Why wasn't the word component things or sankhara used in the last sentence ? Here lies crux of the whole matter.
The term, sankhara or component things denote the conditioned things like the five aggregates. If the third sentence said "All component things are not self, " then it would imply that although component things are not - self, there may be a self outside component things, transcending the five aggregated. In order to avoid misunderstanding, the term dhamma is used in the third sentence. This term is much wider in scopes than sankhara. It includes not only conditioned things but also the non - conditioned [ asankhara dhamma ] e.g. Nirvana. There is nothing in the universe or outside, which is not included in the term dhamma. Hence the statement " All dhamma are not self " means that there is not - self or substance, not only in the five aggregates but also everywhere outside them or apart from them .
This clearly shows that the Early or Theravada Buddhism teaches the selflessness of the person and of dhamma. Meanwhile Mahayana Budhism maintains exactly the same position on this point when it put emphasis on both selflessness of the person and selflessness of the dhamma. So the theory oa Anatta is considered as a unique doctrine of non - self in both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism.
By THE BUDDHA'S Core Teachings
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