In short: anattā means not-self. Body, feelings, perceptions, choices and consciousness all change and can't be fully controlled, so none of them is a fixed "me". The Buddha's instruction: see each one as "This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self" (SN 22.59).
✦ Why it helps
- 🍃 Less clinging, less suffering (letting go)
- ◎ Less "I am" pride (ego in Buddhism)
- ♡ More room for others
The second discourse · The five aggregates
The three marks · All terms · 3 minutes of practice
Questions people ask
What does anatta mean?
Anattā means not-self. The Buddha taught seeing body and mind 'with right understanding: This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self' (SN 22.59).