No - Self.

When people confidently say that there is no ‘self' they are expressing a profound misunderstanding of the Buddha’s teaching of Anatta.

In truth, such a statement should never be used.

There is 'self', but the lifespan of this 'self' lasts only a moment and is then superseded by the next brief moment of ‘self’. A new ‘self’, conditioned by the old one in an endless cycle of what we call life.

This process of ‘self’ arising and passing away happens countless times a moment and is completely impersonal, although always conditioned by karmic forces.

At the same time there is also a conventional reality of ‘self’ arriving in the world, something that appears to be real and substantial, something that endures and is a valid and true identity. When this ‘self’ arises, a whole history arises, manifesting as 'I was in the past, I am now, I will be in the future.’

This false understanding of ‘self’ does not recognize the reality of the moment to moment flow of ‘beingness’ and foolishly presents itself in ego based language as ‘I, me, mine.’

Understanding the truth of Anatta is fundamental to our spiritual awakening and to help explain it more simply, perhaps the analogy of the river is useful.

When we use the word river we all know what is meant, a body of water, something fixed in time and space and easy to identify.

However, river of course, is only a concept, and the reality is that every part of this concept is in an endless state of change. The water flows, it evaporates and is refilled by rain and small streams, animals and fish live in the water and swim and interact leaving their own imprint, insects on the surface of the water play their part and finally there is the natural erosion of the banks due to time and the seasons.

Now we can see that the river is not one fixed thing but actually it is an endless process of change.

'Self' is like this.

This moment of 'self' conditions the next and the next and so on and so on.

The word ‘beingness’ is used to express the understanding of this impersonal process and the harmonious acceptance of it.

Once the habitual and delusive attachment to a self identity with all its fears and desires falls away, there is peace. No more grasping and no more rejecting, only a natural response to life with love, compassion and wisdom.

When the delusion of a fixed ‘self identity’ is transcended it cannot re-establish itself which is why Awakening is always understood as letting go completely, rather that acquiring a new identity or ability.

As the Buddha said, ‘even if I use the word ‘self’ I am never deluded by it.’

‘Self' is real - just not in the way you think it is.

May all beings be happy.