In this episode of Teaching Peace, we explore Chapter 12 of the Dhammapada, turning inward to examine the Buddhist view of atman—the self that is no self.

Jason Storbakken reflects on how Buddhist teachings disrupt common understandings of the soul. Unlike many world religions that affirm an eternal, individual soul, Buddhism invites us into a different truth: the self is not fixed or separate but an illusion shaped by transient experiences. Yet this illusion points toward a deeper reality—what some call the absolute, the all-self, or no-self at all.

This episode considers:

• The contrast between Buddhist atman and the Abrahamic view of the soul

• How the illusion of self contributes to suffering—and how awakening leads to liberation

• Why these philosophical differences matter for interreligious dialogue, environmental ethics, and social justice

• The role of mindfulness and meditation in seeing through the illusion of separateness

Rather than a denial of the soul, Buddhism offers a nuanced path that neither clings to permanence nor erases existence—it points to the possibility of freedom beyond ego.

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