‘No Self’ Explained by Nagasena and the Chariot Parable

The Parable of Nagasena and the Chariot is a famous Buddhist parable found in the Milindapañha, a classical Buddhist text. It illustrates the Buddhist concept of Anatta, or ‘No Self‘, which asserts that there is no eternal, unchanging self or soul within an individual. Instead, what we perceive as a ‘Self’ is a constantly changing, interconnected collection of physical and mental elements.

Nagasena and the Chariot

King Milinda (Menander I), a historical figure, engages in a philosophical dialogue with Nagasena, a Buddhist monk renowned for his wisdom. During their conversation, King Milinda raises the question of the nature of a person and whether there is a permanent self or soul.

Nagasena responds by using the analogy of a chariot:

Nagasena: “Your Majesty, just as a chariot is made up of various parts—the wheels, the axle, the reins, and so on—a person is also made up of various components, such as the body, feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness. When we examine these components closely, we cannot find a permanent, unchanging self, just as we cannot find a chariot apart from its parts.”

King Milinda: “But there must be something that we can identify as ‘the chariot’ that holds it all together.”

Nagasena: “Your Majesty, you are correct that a chariot is identified by the combination of its parts, but there is no inherent ‘chariot-ness’ that exists independently of those parts. Similarly, a person is identified by the combination of their physical and mental components, but there is no permanent self or soul independent of these components.”

The Parable, Explained…

The chariot represents the human being or the individual.

The various parts of the chariot symbolise the physical and mental components that make up a person, such as the body, feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness.

There is no permanent and independent “chariot-ness” that exists separately from its parts and there is no permanent and independent ‘self’ or ‘soul’ within a person that exists independently of their physical and mental components. Instead, what we perceive as a ‘Self’ is a constantly changing and interconnected collection of these components.

Clinging to the concept of a fixed and enduring ‘Self’ can lead to suffering because it does not align with the reality of existence as perceived in Buddhism. Instead, understanding and embracing the concept of ‘No Self’ can lead to a deeper insight into the nature of reality and contribute to an important part of your spiritual journey.