Is Anatta the same as Annihilationism?
Buddha taught the doctrine of Anatta (no-self; no-soul). Many Buddhists mistake this position for Annihilationism (Ucchedavāda). It should be noted that Buddha’s teaching of Anatta is NOT the same as Annihilationism even though the two concepts are similar.
Ucchedavāda is a Pali and Sanskrit word that means “the doctrine of the cutting-off (of the soul and the body)”. It can also be translated as “annihilationism” or “nihilism”. Ucchedavāda is the belief system that may include the following views:
- There is no afterlife in any form
- Personal identity perishes with the body at death
- Actions (karma) have no ethical consequences
- There is no rebirth
Ucchedavāda is also known as:
- Uccheda-vada
- Uccheda-dṛṣṭi
- The view of annihilation
- The belief in non-Being
The word uccheda comes from ud + chid, chind which means “breaking up, disintegration, perishing (of the soul)”. The suffix -vada is a Sanskrit or Pali root which indicates a certain thesis, argument or doctrine. Thus, the compound word means “the doctrine of annihilation or disintegration.”
