By Peter
The Buddhist concept of “no‑self” does not imply non‑existence or illusion. Instead, It emphasizes impermanence. Impermanence is not mystical and it is not abstract. It is something we can observe directly in our daily life. This teaching is grounded in causality: all phenomena arise from causes and conditions, and when these conditions change, the phenomena change as well.
Buddhism describes a person as a collection of five aggregates: form (the body), feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness. These five aggregates constantly change according to causes and conditions.
A person exists in this earthy world, and they also have an identity, which is typically represented by a name or nationality.
“Who am I?” A simple question, with a straightforward answer. I’m Peter, right? That’s the name you know me by. But Peter isn’t my birth name. It’s my baptismal name. In Hong Kong, my friends call me by my birth name, not Peter. I’m the same person, but my sense of identity shifts depending on where I am.
“Who am I?” I’m Chinese, born in China. But now I travel with a U.S. passport, so I’m Chinese American now. It’s no surprise that my perceptions and mental formations have gradually evolved through exposure to, and immersion in, the remarkable civilizations of East and West.
Forty years ago, I was described as young, thin, and good‑looking, with dark hair. Now I’m often described as old and overweight, with white hair and wrinkles. Am I still the same person?
Human body cells renew at different rates. For example, the skin renews every 2 to 4 weeks, red blood cells approximately every 120 days, and white blood cells within hours to days. Biologically speaking, I am not the same person I was forty years ago.
New experiences reshape my views and feelings every day. Although my name remains Peter, my thoughts and actions have changed. Five years ago, persistent back pain led me to explore meditation. Mindfulness training has significantly deepened my awareness of both my external environment and my inner state. Over the past five years, have I become a different person? Yes—internal changes have occurred, even if they are not visible from the outside.
Understanding impermanence reveals the causes of our suffering. We often suffer because we cling to what is pleasant and turn away from what we find unpleasant. Suffering doesn’t come from change itself. It comes from our reaction to change—our grasping and our aversion
People practice meditation for many different reasons, but the common goal is to enhance well‑being. Meditation trains us in mindfulness of the present moment. I’d like to share an excerpt on mindfulness from the book titled “The Eightfold Path” by Jikyo Cheryl Wolfer:
“Somehow, somebody got the idea that mindfulness is a shortcut to feeling happy, confident, and in control by ‘zoning out,’ making thoughts (particularly stressful or confused thoughts) disappear, and creating a blank mental canvas. ‘Zoning out,’ escaping from life or suppressing thought, is not mindfulness, and comparing one’s practice with that of one’s friends is not a useful measure of validity.”
Meditation doesn’t solve all my problems, but it brings inner peace. This peace softens my immediate reactions to difficult situations and helps me think with greater clarity and depth. ,
Who am I? My name, social identity, and status do not define me. Also no one’s expectation can define me. My deeper self is revealed through self‑acceptance and gratitude for embracing who I am. I am Peter. I am nobody—and yet I am who I am.
Hakone Zendo 