Am I a Buddhist?

[landis]

Greetings all,

Until I feel we’ve reached some kind of agreement or agreement to disagree in the following topic:

On sakkāya, identity, and substantial reality

Students of Buddhism are familiar with the term sakkāya, the view of which is one of the fetters binding us to suffering. I have previously translated it as “identity”, but in his most recent work, the translation of the Suttanipāta, Ven Bodhi says: Sakkāya: the composite of the five aggregates subject to clinging. A translation of the word is almost impossible. My past attempts, as “personality” and “identity,” are inadequate. Sakkāya is a compound of sat = “existent” and kāya = “body,” but…

I won’t be posting in this one. Join us there; post more here if you wish; or wait till I’m back. I’ve every intention of returning.

best,
~l