Features

Neuro-Biological Basis Of The Concept Of Non-Self (Anatta ) For The Layman

Published

3 years ago

2023/05/7

by Dr Channa Ratnatunga

I pen this article for those who seek the possible basis of Anatta from a scientific point of view. I’m leaving out ‘of the equation’, the ‘Soul theory’ of an unchanging entity of theistic religions, as it is not pertinent in the ‘dhamma of the Buddha’, which refutes it.

Anatta

is at the core of the dhamma, preached by the Buddha 2,500 years ago. The belief in a ‘self’ is our everyday experience in life. One goes to sleep and gets up in the morning, as the same person with the same memories, within the same body. It needs some sound explanation, if we are expected to believe there is ‘no-self ’. I will try to prove in this short article, that the concept of ‘no-self’ i.e. anatta, is true.

Evolution of the Human Brain

The self is a protective product of the brain. The problem with the belief in a ‘self ‘is that it tries to protect itself’. Man is built biologically to survive and procreate. Hence such reflexes for survival are automatic to his brain’s inherent structure and psyche. It is reflected in the chronological stages of evolution of brains, of animal life-forms in nature. The evolutionary features of which (both structural and functional), we also carry in our brains.

Figure, of the human Brain cut sagittally in the middle

They are (as seen in the Figure of the human brain above), in chronological sequence, the Reptilian brain, the Paleo-mammalian brain (Limbic brain) encompassing it, and lastly, the latest, the neo-mammalian cortex of the brain. The former two are involved with instinctual reflex and emotional behaviour for survival, respectively, much like that found in evolutionary lowly animals and birds. The emotional brain, is evolved when birth begins to be from a womb rather than from an egg. Because this entails living within a herd, it becomes a must, to ensure security of the mother, who has to be protected at all times to care for the progeny and ensure the survival of the genus (species-herd). The rules of the herd cause auto-regulation of the emotional brain by the neo-cortex. Much later, education or the fear of religious pronouncements like the five precepts will help mitigating the reflex emotional responses, of the emotional brain.

The human brain carries within it, all three evolutionary brains with their inherent functions.

Neuroplasticity and Creation of a ‘Self’.

The brain was once believed to be an unchanging entity. This myth was debunked several decades ago. The brain keeps adapting to the needs of the environment and the circumstance in which it is placed, to help the ‘being’, to tenaciously survive. This takes place from about the age of three to five years, as a child. The ‘self’ is built over the growing years, i.e. the personality, it becomes unique to the ‘being’ based on its experience and education i.e. nurture. This process occurring in the brain is neuro-biologically termed neuroplasticity, and is goes on all the time in the network circuits of the brain. They are encoded into the very networks of the brain at a tissue level (i.e. neuronal network).

Brain networks

There are so far eight networks that have been imaged based on their activity, by neuroscientists as up to now. Two dominant networks concerned with the mind, are the Default mode network (DMN) and the Central Executive Network (CEN). The DMN deals with self-referenced thinking. Thinking of the past, events etc. and worrying about the future. In contrast CEN is used when thoughts are of the present, are task oriented and positive. Human beings are considered to be in the DMN, most of the time (in Rumination). Training to live in the present moment, by intense Mindful-meditation, helps to encourage the gradual withering away of neuro-plastic change that has occurred in the DM Network (placed in many interconnected foci in the brain) by disuse (synaptic pruning). Since DMN which enhanced ‘self- referenced thoughts’ its attrition is salutary. Persisting with Mindful meditation, secures by neuro-plasticity changes in the CEN, the task positive state and this then progresses to a trait, which permits the meditator to enter into the CEN the brain at will.

Self

; comes on only at three to five years, develops throughout life, being located at multiple foci of the DMN, its attrition by Mindful meditation and its impermanence with its dissolution as brain tissue at death, are four valid arguments that there is no locus for a ‘Self’ in the brain and its lack of permanence. These highlights the truth of Anatta. Then one can ask, what goes across with rebirth, it is Kammic energy, said the Buddha.

Anatta
is a core concept in the dhamma and is backed by current neuroscience.

Buddha Dhamma and Neuroscience

The Buddha, in deep meditation, had it revealed unto himself the natural laws that apply to forces dealing with life-forms i.e. that of Kammic energy. That this Kamma is a link in the law of causality (paticca sammuppada), which leads to rebirth and a Sansaric existence. The latter in turn leads to Dukkha.

Atta or ‘self’, when provoked, responds emotionally as it always underlies the mindset of an untrained being, with its predilection for thoughts, words and deeds on self-preservation and procreation. This is due to the human brain harbouring both the Reptilian and Emotional components. Thereby leading to instinctual responses of a ‘survival nature’, like clinging to self, i.e. Bava Tanha, it leads to other Kammic acts such as anger, hatred, envy, jealousy and greed (even altruistic acts are motivated, as seeking privilege and priority in the herd) with their kammic consequences.

Hence the realization of Anatta as being true in reality, and that the ‘self’ is simply neuro-plastically determined ‘construct (fabrication)’ to withstand the environment and the circumstances, for survival becomes clear. As all formations are impermanent (Anicca), in which this neuro-plastically developed construct ( i.e. the ‘being’) too is placed in, is not a permanent, but an ephemeral entity in true reality.The Buddha dharma states that it’s only one’s acquired Kammic energy seeks ‘vipaka’ and this results in the next lives.

Awareness of the truth of Anatta, mitigates Kammic acts and de-links paticca samuppada i.e. Sansaric progression, and dukkha that follows. This is the Buddha legacy to humankind.

A more detailed exposition, will be presented in a book, ‘Buddhist Philosophy and Neuroscience’, I hope to publish in the very near future.

All News Advertisement

Features

The hard challenge of clinching a political settlement in the Middle East

Published

21 hours ago

2026/07/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Bruised hearts: Displaced Palestinian civilians in the Gaza.(Photo by Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Despite some sections of the Trump administration persisting with the view that the possibility could not be entirely ruled out of there being a diplomatic solution to the current US-Iran hostilities in West Asia, the skeptic could not be blamed for thinking otherwise. The intensity, scale and frequency of the tit-for-tat strikes by the antagonists over the past few days against selected military targets and civilian infrastructure in particular in West Asia make the adoption of this stance excusable.

The continuing hostilities render the mentioning of the MOU signed between the warring parties in mid-June a laughable matter. While it could very well be that the foes are wishing privately for a cessation of hostilities before long, what seems to be uppermost on their minds right now is to negotiate with each other from a position of strength. This strategy compels them to incapacitate each other militarily to the extent possible, lest they have to concede too much to each other during negotiations. Hence the stepped-up hostilities.

However, even on the question of there being a negotiated political settlement in the West Asian theatre in the longer term, the skeptic could come to be seen as scoring over the optimist. Developments on the ground account for this.

At the time of writing Israel’s Netanyahu government is going ahead in fairly care-free fashion with the establishment of more Jewish settlements in the Gaza and the West Bank, and it’s all happening under the apparently complacent gaze of the US. In fact, some quarters estimate that Israel is in control of some 65% of the Gaza Strip. Ethnic cleansing, that is, is being drastically stepped-up.

Accordingly, in terms of the power relations of West Asia, the world is almost back to the status quo of the late forties of the last century when the state of Israel was established and the Palestinians were reduced to a microscopic minority in the land they came to inhabit. Therefore, even the impartial observer would be compelled to ask: ‘Will a negotiated peace be ever possible in the Middle East?’

The humanist in the observer would prefer to answer this question in the affirmative and it is indeed the ideal stance to adopt considering the staggering human and material costs of the conflict. But the way ahead to peace could be expected to be highly hazardous and arduous. Among other odds, it would also prove an uphill endeavour to win minds and hearts.

The US’ Trump administration would need to be counted out in this pursuit. This is on account of the fact that it has been far too wayward in its management of West Asian affairs in particular over the past couple of years. Given its unpredictable character it is a matter for conjecture whether it could be counted on to live up to its commitments.

Moreover, Israel could be expected to ‘go it alone’ in the Middle East regardless of whether US help is coming or otherwise. It has indicated as much in recent times and Israel could be doubted on this score only at the doubter’s peril. Because time and again Israel has demonstrated that it could steadfastly defend its interests even single-handedly in the Middle East. History bears this out.

However, a durable alliance with the US would stand Israel in good stead. On the matter of military and intelligence assistance, for example, the US’s help proved invaluable for Israel in the past and going forward this is bound to be so as well. Moreover, it is unlikely that the Trump administration would give up on Israel, considering that a strong Israel is crucial for the furtherance of the US’ strategic and economic interests in West Asia.

But whether the above factors would have a considerable bearing on the question of working out a durable solution to the West Asian tangle is an entirely different matter. Israel, as in the case of the Palestinian enclaves, is acutely security conscious and would need to satisfy itself fully that it could live in a security environment that would guarantee its complete safety, going forward.

The Middle East is badly in need of another peace effort on the lines of the Oslo Accords of the mid-nineties that brought the key actors together and helped hammer out a solution that addressed some of their notable concerns. To be sure, that process did not prove to be the ideal answer to the tangle, but it yielded some respite to the region and drove home that one-time sworn foes could indeed negotiate with a degree of success. The West Bank authority, although falling short of fulfilling some key Palestinian aspirations, is testimony that a degree of success is possible if the intent is right.

Given the current realities of West Asia, peace-making is bound to be an uphill challenge. The violence faced in recent times by the Palestinian community, in particular, has been nothing less than mind-numbing. Merciless has been the violence visited on them by the Israeli side. In such circumstances, durable peace in the region could smack of an idealist’s dream.

Nevertheless, there needs to be urgently, a meeting of minds over the divides. The US would need to be counted out as an honest broker in bringing the sides together but the rest of the West would do well to step up to the challenge.

In this exercise the onus would be on the world’s democracies to take the initiative and doggedly stay the course. An acceptable combination would be the EU and the UN. Given their credentials, the main sides in West Asia ought to find them the least controversial.

Even if the relevant institutional and political arrangements could be shored up to take a reconciliation process forward, winning hearts and minds for the peace drive would prove a grueling challenge. Over the past few years in particular tens of thousands of hearts and minds on both sides of the divide have been bruised badly in the runaway murderous violence that has come to define the Middle East.

These badly scarred personalities would need to experience healing without much delay. It is therefore a multi-faceted challenge that is at hand. Since wide-ranging expertise would be needed in the healing process, people’s participation in peace-making, ranging over the divides, would need to be made a durable reality. It will be a time for enthroning humanity and ensuring the rejection of all forms of violence and coercion.

Features

Amazing Thailand …right here in Colombo

Published

21 hours ago

2026/07/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

For many Sri Lankans, Thailand is the go-to holiday — beaches, temples, food, and that famous warm hospitality.

In fact, I’ve been to Amazing Thailand 24 times myself, and was honoured with the Friends of Thailand International Media Award by the Tourism Authority of Thailand for promoting Thai tourism.

The good news I have for you today is that you don’t even need a passport to get a taste of Amazing Thailand.

The Royal Thai Embassy, in Colombo, is bringing a vibrant slice of Thailand, to the city of Colombo, with Thai Festival 2026 — a cultural experience like never before.

Whether you are an avid enthusiast of Thai culture, a total novice, or simply just interested in exploring foreign cultures, Thai Festival 2026 is going to be the perfect opportunity for you to get more than just a glimpse into one of the most celebrated cultural heritages in South East Asia. And ENTRANCE IS FREE.

The festival will be held on the 1st and 2nd of August, 2026, at Siam Nivasa, 43, C.W.W. Kannangara Mawatha, Colombo 7, and the East Parking Area, of the Colombo Municipal Council, from 11:00am to 5:00pm.

Both days will be full of live entertainment, and dispersed throughout with Thai cultural displays, including exhilarating traditional dance performances and breathtaking Muay Thai demonstrations.

Exploring art and craft specific to Thailand, tasting irresistible authentic Thai cuisine, and playing arcade games, are just a few more fun-filled events available for visitors at the festival premises.

An array of Thai products will also be available for purchase.

While at the festival, you will find Sri Lankan Alumni from Thai universities sharing their experiences with you and willing to answer any questions you might have, related to studying abroad in Thailand.

You can also register for the Muay Thai workshop that will be happening on the 7th and 8th of August, 2026, in Colombo.

Irresistible authentic Thai cuisine

Visitors can also stand a chance to win traditional Thai souvenirs, get exclusive photo opportunities, and, the big one — to enter the raffle draw, at the end of each day, for the grand prize of an all-inclusive round trip to Thailand.

Be sure to avail yourself of this exceptional opportunity and add a cultural spin to your weekend.

To keep up with the latest updates on Thai Festival 2026, head over to the Thai Festival official social media pages.

The Royal Thai Embassy in Colombo official webpage:

https://colombo.thaiembassy.org

Official social media:

Facebook: @RTEColombo

Instagram: @thaiembassysrilanka

Thai Festival official social media:

Facebook: Thai Festival in Colombo

Instagram: @thaifestival_colombo

TikTok: @thaifestival.incolombo

Features

Thicker, stronger hair …

Published

21 hours ago

2026/07/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Hair fall, in this heat, can be so frustrating, and noticing a thin patch is even more worrying. The good news is … yes, with a little care and kitchen ingredients, you can nourish your scalp and support healthy regrowth.

Try these four easy home remedies … even our grandmothers trusted:

* Coconut Oil and Curry Leaves Tonic:

Warm 04 tablespoons of coconut oil, with a handful of curry leaves, till the leaves turn black. Cool, strain, and massage into scalp 02-03 times a week. Leave for 01 hour, or overnight.

Why:

Coconut oil deeply nourishes, while curry leaves help strengthen roots and add shine.

* Onion Juice for Spot Treatment:

With cotton, dab the juice of 01 small onion, directly on the thin/bald patches. Leave for 20-30 minutes, and then wash with a mild shampoo. Use twice a week.

Why:

Rich in sulfur, onion juice helps boost blood circulation to the scalp.

* Aloe Vera and Castor Oil Mask:

Mix 02 tablespoons of fresh aloe vera gel and 01 tablespoon castor oil and apply to the scalp, focusing on thinning areas. Leave for 45 minutes, and then rinse with cool water.

Why:

Aloe vera soothes the scalp, while castor oil coats hair to make it look thicker.

* Fenugreek and Curd Strengthening Pack:

You will need 02 tablespoons fenugreek seeds, soaked overnight, and 02 tablespoons plain curd.

Grind to a paste, apply to scalp for 30 minutes, and then wash.

Why:

Fenugreek strengthens strands and reduces breakage.

Extra Tips for Healthy Hair:

Avoid tight hairstyles that pull on the scalp.

Eat iron and protein rich foods: greens, dhal, eggs, fish.

Use lukewarm water, not hot.

Be gentle when brushing and drying.