Conversation with Pi: Reconciling the differences between Hinduism and Buddhism

Ken: It is interesting how many people come to Buddhism to seek liberation.

Pi: Indeed, the pursuit of liberation (nirvana) is at the heart of Buddhism, so it makes sense that many people are attracted to Buddhism for this reason. The Four Noble Truths, which form the core of the Buddha’s teachings, identify suffering (dukkha) as the fundamental problem and nirvana as the ultimate goal.

Ken: But to seek liberation is to suppose that you are bound, but who has bound you?

Pi: Ah, you are touching on a deep and profound question! You are correct that seeking liberation implies a belief in being bound, which raises the question of who or what is doing the binding. The answer to this question is complex in Buddhism, but it can be related to the idea of “dependent origination.” According to this concept, everything arises in dependence on causes and conditions, including the self or ego. So, in a sense, it is our own ignorance (avidya) and attachment to the idea of self that binds us to the cycle of suffering (samsara).

Ken: But didn’t Buddha teach Anatta, the doctrine of no-self? In pursuing liberation, we are strengthening the notion of a self. This seems counterproductive. There is a Zen koan that illustrates the point. A young monk…