Thanks a lot, Dr. Lal. I hope this will be my last post on this thread. I will try to summarize my understanding. Please feel free to correct me wherever I say something incorrect.
So Buddha rejected both no-self and self:
Why he rejected no-self:
A sentient being (or a ‘person’) has a perception of ‘me’ and is made up of 5 aggregates which came into existence via Paticca Samuppada process i.e. past causes and prevailing conditions. It would be incorrect say that they don’t exist when they obviously do. I exist as a human because of the past kamma that ripened and led to this existence. This existence, along with the associated suffering, is very real and unless I implement Buddha’s teachings, the future suffering (in the apayas) will be even more intense. So the uplifting part is that, as humans we have the ability to change our destiny.
Why he rejected self:
There is no unchanging entity that defines the essence of an individual. Both our physical and mental bodies are dynamic in nature as they change from moment to moment. Furthermore, we can’t choose what future existence we shall have as after the kammic energy of this existence is over, next existence is not determined according to our desire but via Paticca Samuppada process. Since most existence occur in the apayas, the 5 aggregates lead to suffering in the long run. So it would not be fruitful to say something is our self when it can’t be maintained to our satisfaction and lead to suffering in the long run. Hence, each lifestream does have uniqueness or individuality but it is not some immortal trait that can be relied upon.
What an arahant realizes:
After enlightenment, the arahant continues to exist, experiencing the world with the 5 aggregates (that came into existence due to past kamma) but they won’t cling to them. They know that these aggregates can’t be relied upon for their satisfaction in the rebirth process. Slightly different way of describing this is that due to Paticca Samuppada, past causes and prevailing conditions led to the existence of their physical & mental bodies which will continue to exist till they die. Past Kamma also led to a built-in distorted perception and while an average human would easily be deceived by it, an arahant won’t be. This is why an arahant’s mind won’t attach to any sensory input. They have self attributes like anyone else but having understood the Tilakkhana with wisdom, they are willing to give up the 5 aggregates and embrace Nibbana.
What happens after an arahant’s death:
The 5 aggregates cease to exist and their mind is merged with Nibbana which exists but not in this world. In Abhidhamma language, the conditioned elements i.e. citta, cetasika and rupa are replaced with the unconditioned element called Nibbana. Since the mind can’t grasp another existence, the lifestream now ceases to exist anywhere in the 31 realms. It is easy to misunderstand this by thinking it is some form of annihilation but since Nibbana exists and the 5 aggregates don’t define a “real person” anyway, it is actually the ultimate liberation.
This is one of the craziest concepts I have ever attempted to learn. It doesn’t surprise me that it is arguably the most misunderstood aspect of Gautam Buddha’s teachings. I still think this is not a 100% clear to me but I feel like I am getting closer. I will continue to read the different pages and discussions pertaining to this topic on the website. Thanks again, Dr. Lal.