puggala

Puggala is a Pali term used in Buddhist philosophy, often translated as "person," "individual," or "being." However, its meaning is more nuanced than a simple equivalent. In Buddhist teachings, particularly in the doctrine of anatta (no-self), the concept of puggala is explored to deconstruct the notion of a permanent, independent, and unchanging self or soul.

The Buddha's analysis of existence typically involves five aggregates (khandhas): form, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness. These aggregates are seen as constantly changing processes that, when conventionally understood, give rise to the idea of a "puggala." However, upon closer examination, no permanent, unified self can be found within these aggregates. The "puggala" is therefore understood as a conventional designation, a convenient label for a complex and impermanent collection of phenomena.

The term puggala also appears in discussions about karmic continuity and rebirth. While there is no permanent self that transmigrates, the accumulated karma of a puggala influences the arising of a new puggala in a subsequent existence. This continuity is often explained through analogies such as a flame passing from one candle to another, or a seal impressing its mark on wax. The puggala, in this context, is the stream of consciousness and mental dispositions that carries the karmic imprints. Understanding the nature of the puggala is central to grasping the Buddhist teachings on suffering, liberation, and the path to enlightenment.