4/5/2013 Heaps and Links: Self and Mind in Buddhism

by Kiriell Popienko

    For centuries philosophers have pondered the mind-body problem and humanity's ontological place in the universe.  The most easily recognized of these figures is Rene Descartes who introduced Cartesian Dualism and his famous quote "I think, therefore I am".  Since then Descartes (at least for me) has been a prime example of logical fallacy in intro to philosophy courses everywhere.  When thinking about the philosophy of mind and self, most would point to western philosophers and such theories as Dualism, Idealism, Materialism, and other western theories; but seldom do people look to the east.  Do the Buddhist notions of self and mind hold up better than popular western ones? this is what we will be discussing this week.
   One of the key tenants of Buddhism is the "no-self"(anatman), the letting go of ones ego in order to achieve enlightenment, but in order to do this you must understand what that illusionary self is.  This presentation will focus on the five "heaps" (skandhas) and the twelve dependent "links" (Nidanas).  The skandhas are what comprise the self and the Nidanas are what attach us to this world (an exercise in dependent origination).  We will also briefly discuss the history of Buddhism and Buddhist Metaphysics.
   The purpose of this presentation is to inform, so that you might make your own discussion about what works and doesn't work, which in my opinion is the most important of the Buddha's teachings.  Our small discussion will be about the application of this new information to western theories.