<p>What is a "soul"? </p>

<p>In the Christian New Testament, the "soul" is most often described as the human conscience that becomes defiled or purified, similar to the mind-heart ("citta") taught by the Lord Buddha. </p>

<p>In later-day-Buddhism, the idea of "relinking consciousness" was manufactured; which is similar to the meta-physical idea of the Hindu soul that leaves one physical body at the end of life and enters into a new physical body. This idea is alien to the Lord Buddha.</p>

<p>The Lord Buddha himself was not concerned with meta-physics but with ending suffering. Therefore, the Lord Buddha was not concerned with a meta-physical soul but with the egoistic covetousness &amp; possessiveness that creates suffering. </p>

<p>While the Buddha's teaching of not-self (anatta) is a natural reality; the important reason it was taught is it ends suffering. If anatta did not end suffering, the Buddha would not have taught it.  </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-30T09:15:10.750Z
2018-09-30T09:15:10.750Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>Did Gautama Buddha believe in the existence of soul in human body? If not, why?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-09-30T07:35:35.697Z
no one will know the answer. but there is no soul in human body.
PL_Pathum
<theravada><the-buddha><soul>
Did the Buddha believe in the existence of soul?
# Did the Buddha believe in the existence of soul?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-09-30)

Did Gautama Buddha believe in the existence of soul in human body? If not, why?

**Tags:** theravada, the-buddha, soul

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: no one will know the answer. but there is no soul in human body.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-09-30. Score: 2

What is a "soul"?

In the Christian New Testament, the "soul" is most often described as the human conscience that becomes defiled or purified, similar to the mind-heart ("citta") taught by the Lord Buddha.

In later-day-Buddhism, the idea of "relinking consciousness" was manufactured; which is similar to the meta-physical idea of the Hindu soul that leaves one physical body at the end of life and enters into a new physical body. This idea is alien to the Lord Buddha.

The Lord Buddha himself was not concerned with meta-physics but with ending suffering. Therefore, the Lord Buddha was not concerned with a meta-physical soul but with the egoistic covetousness & possessiveness that creates suffering.

While the Buddha's teaching of not-self (anatta) is a natural reality; the important reason it was taught is it ends suffering. If anatta did not end suffering, the Buddha would not have taught it.


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