Analysis of Early Buddhist Thought

This careful analysis of early Buddhist thought opens out a perspective in which no permanent Self is accepted, but a rich analysis of changing and potent mental processes is developed.

It explores issues relating to the not-Self teaching: self-development, moral responsibility, the between-lives period, and the undetermined questions on the world, on the life principle and on the liberated one after death.

It examines the person as a flowing continuity centred on consciousness or discernment (vinnana) configured in changing minds-sets (cittas). The resting state of this is seen as brightly shining - like the Buddha nature of Mahayana thought - so as to represent the potential for Nirvana.

Nirvana is then shown to be a state in which consciousness transcends all objects, and thus participates in a timeless, unconditioned realm.