In another thread, Ardavarz asked:

I just would like to share a thought that occurs to me - could we translate

> anatta in a sense with "inanimate"?
> Etymologically it is more or less equivalent - both anima in Latin and atta
> in Pali mean "soul", but I am not fully aware of all possible connotations
> of the word "inanimate" in English. Still I think if one say: "The psyche
> (or mind) is inanimate", the shock from this seemingly paradoxical (for the
> common sense) statement could be quite insightful.
>

I'm rather partial to the word "selfless". It's quite literally accurate,
and it indicates the positive nature of the "not-self" characteristic in a
way that shocks, yet makes perfect sense upon reflection.

With regard,

Richard


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