The Buddhist concept of anatta, or not-self, can be super useful in addressing attachments to personal traits that can often lead to suffering. To help explain, I like to use the metaphor of a song. 

We might all be familiar with a particular song based upon a set of parameters, like a melody, words, or rhythm. Though the essence of the song is agreed on, the song will represent something a little different to everyone based on the context in which it is engaged. One person might associate the song with something good that happened in their life. Another might connect it to a tragedy.  

According to annata, people are kind of the same way. Even though this form called Matt is known to be a human being, having blue eyes, brown hair, and a mole on the left cheek, who I really am is going to be something a little different to each person I encounter based upon the context. Furthermore, if my hair were to go gray or if I were to lose my eyes in an accident I would still be Matt. So, even the physical aspects don’t clearly define us as a particular entity. So, what does?

Essentially, the concept of anatta makes no claims about whether there is a true self or not. It basically says that it is impossible to really know and trying to define one outside of the present moment will ultimately result in suffering. This idea can be hard to grasp but extremely liberating, opening us up to a world of limitless possibilities of self-evolution outside of any physical or psychological traits we may have expressed in the past or aspire to in the future. 

As a teacher of mine likes to say: We are each just a single note in the grand, ever-evolving, cosmic symphony of life.

– Below are some songs that have resonated with me in the past month. I hope they bring more joy to your life. Thanks for listening, MMM

This month’s artists are: Depeche Mode, Irma Thomas, Lil Yachty, Gorillaz, boygenius, Hot Chip, Brian Eno, COIO3, Kate NV, Lambchop, Earth Girl Helen Brown, Saya Gray, Yard Act, Neutral Milk Hotel, Natalia Lafourchade, Jonathan Richman, The Zombies

The Buddhist concept of anatta, or not-self, can be super useful in addressing attachments to personal traits that can often lead to suffering. To help explain, I like to use the metaphor of a song. 

We might all be familiar with a particular song based upon a set of parameters, like a melody, words, or rhythm. Though the essence of the song is agreed upon, the song will represent something a little different to everyone based on the context in which it is engaged. One person might associate the song with something good that happened in their life. Another might connect it to a tragedy.  

According to annata, people are kind of the same way. Even though this form called Matt is known to be a human being, having blue eyes, brown hair, and a mole on the left cheek, who I really am is going to be something a little different to each person I encounter based upon the context. Furthermore, if my hair were to go gray or if I were to lose my eyes in a tragic farming accident I would still be Matt. So, even the physical aspects don’t clearly define us as a particular entity. So, what does?

Essentially, the concept of anatta makes no claims about whether there is a true self or not. It basically says that it is impossible to really know and trying to define one outside of the present moment will ultimately result in suffering. This idea can be hard to grasp but extremely liberating, opening us up to a world of limitless possibilities of self-evolution outside of any physical or psychological traits we may have expressed in the past or aspire to in the future. 

As a teacher of mine likes to say: We are each just a single note playing in the grand, ever-evolving, cosmic symphony of life.

– Below are some songs that have resonated with me in the past month. I hope they bring more joy to your life. Thanks for listening, MMM

 This month’s artists are: Depeche Mode, Irma Thomas, Lil Yachty, Gorillaz, boygenius, Hot Chip, Brian Eno, COIO3, Kate NV, Lambchop, Earth Girl Helen Brown, Saya Gray, Yard Act, Neutral Milk Hotel, Natalia Lafourchade, Jonathan Richman, The Zombies

The Buddhist concept of anatta, or not-self, can be super useful in addressing attachments to personal traits that can often lead to suffering. To help explain, I like to use the metaphor of a song. 

We might all be familiar with a particular song based upon a set of parameters, like a melody, words, or rhythm. Though the essence of the song is agreed upon, the song will represent something a little different to everyone based on the context in which it is engaged. One person might associate the song with something good that happened in their life. Another might connect it to a tragedy.  

According to annata, people are kind of the same way. Even though this form called Matt is known to be a human being, having blue eyes, brown hair, and a mole on the left cheek, who I really am is going to be something a little different to each person I encounter based upon the context. Furthermore, if my hair were to go gray or if I were to lose my eyes in a tragic farming accident I would still be Matt. So, even the physical aspects don’t clearly define us as a particular entity. So, what does?

Essentially, the concept of anatta makes no claims about whether there is a true self or not. It basically says that it is impossible to really know and trying to define one outside of the present moment will ultimately result in suffering. This idea can be hard to grasp but extremely liberating, opening us up to a world of limitless possibilities of self-evolution outside of any physical or psychological traits we may have expressed in the past or aspire to in the future. 

As a teacher of mine likes to say: We are each just a single note in the grand, ever-evolving, cosmic symphony of life.

– Below are some songs that have resonated with me in the past month. I hope they bring more joy to your life. Thanks for listening, MMM

 This month’s artists are: Depeche Mode, Irma Thomas, Lil Yachty, Gorillaz, boygenius, Hot Chip, Brian Eno, COIO3, Kate NV, Lambchop, Earth Girl Helen Brown, Saya Gray, Yard Act, Neutral Milk Hotel, Natalia Lafourchade, Jonathan Richman, The Zombies

(Subscribe to get a new playlist every 1st Monday of the month. Click on my user link or search: Major Matt’s 1st Monday on Spotify to cruise past playlists and discover more music.)