Buddhist self-immolation is once again in the news.
But here’s the paradox of it…
Buddhist doctrine of Anatta says: “there is no self; self is an illusion.”
If there is no self, there is nothing to sacrifice.
Thus, self-immolation is not a self-sacrifice (because there is no self to begin with).
Thus, the idea of a self-sacrifice is an illusion even if an act of self-immolation is reality.
Life is a burn of dialectic contradiction, one way or another.
Metabolically, existentially, politically.
Pavel Somov, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and the author of "Eating the Moment" (New Harbinger, 2008), "Present Perfect" (NH, 2010), "The Lotus Effect" (NH, 2010), "Smoke Free Smoke Break" (2011), and "Reinventing the Meal" (2012). He is in private practice in Pittsburgh, PA. His book website is www.eatingthemoment.com
Marla Somova, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist in private practice and an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling at Carlow University in Pittsburgh, PA. She is the co-author of "Smoke Free Smoke Break" (2011).
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Last reviewed: 11 Dec 2012
APA Reference
Somov, P. (2012). Paradox of Buddhist Self-Immolation. Psych Central.
Retrieved on May 20, 2013, from http://blogs.psychcentral.com/mindful-living/2012/12/paradox-of-buddhist-self-immolation/
