1. What is the Buddhist concept of the self?
Buddhism teaches the doctrine of Anatta (no-self), which asserts that there is no permanent, unchanging soul or self. Unlike the concept of Paramatma in Hinduism, which represents a supreme, eternal soul or essence, Buddhism believes that the self is an illusion created by aggregates (skandhas), which are the components of physical and mental existence.
2. Does Buddhism believe in a supreme soul like Paramatma?
No, Buddhism does not believe in a supreme, eternal soul or a divine essence like the concept of Paramatma. Instead, it emphasizes the realization of emptiness (shunyata) and the cessation of suffering through the understanding that all things are interdependent and transient.
3. Is there a divine or cosmic consciousness in Buddhism?
Buddhism does not subscribe to the idea of a supreme, divine consciousness like Paramatma. While there are teachings about interdependent existence (dependent origination) and the interconnectedness of all beings, there is no notion of an overarching cosmic consciousness in the way that some other religions describe it. In Buddhism, liberation is achieved by realizing the impermanent and interdependent nature of all phenomena.