Comparison of Anavah (Humility) and Buddhist Anatta (Non-Self)

Mussar’s anavah and Buddhism’s anatta are profound concepts addressing the relationship between the self, others, and the greater reality. While both traditions explore humility and the reduction of ego, their goals, methods, and theological underpinnings differ significantly.

 

1. Core Concepts

Anavah (Mussar):

• • Rooted in the Jewish tradition, anavah means humility, often translated as “knowing one’s place” (makir et mekomo). It emphasizes a balanced self-concept that avoids both arrogance and self-negation.
  • Anavah is about aligning oneself within a divinely ordered cosmos, recognizing one’s strengths and limitations while seeing others as equally valuable.
  • Humility in anavah supports personal responsibility (achrayut) and fosters gratitude (hakarat hatov), aiming to create harmony between the individual, community, and God.

Anatta (Buddhism):

• • Anatta translates as “non-self” and is a foundational teaching of Buddhism. It asserts that there is no permanent, unchanging self or soul; instead, all phenomena, including the “self,” are impermanent and interdependent.
  • Anatta encourages letting go of attachment to the ego, seeing oneself as part of the flow of impermanent, interconnected phenomena.
  • The ultimate goal of anatta is liberation (nirvana), achieved by dissolving the illusion of self and reducing suffering caused by clinging to identity or desires.

 

2. Goals

Anavah:

• • Aligns the individual with their purpose (tafkid) and role in the world while fostering relationships with others and with God.
  • Seeks balance: to neither overinflate one’s importance nor undervalue one’s potential. This supports fulfilling obligations and contributing meaningfully to the community.

Anatta:

• • Seeks liberation from suffering by dismantling the illusion of an independent self. Through understanding anatta, practitioners reduce attachment and craving, leading to inner peace and enlightenment.
  • Does not emphasize a “role” for the self, as the very concept of self is seen as a source of suffering.

 

3. Theological Underpinnings

Anavah:

• • Operates within a theistic framework, where God is the ultimate reality. Humility stems from recognizing one’s position relative to God and others, acknowledging that human strengths and weaknesses are divinely given.
  • Focuses on ethical action in the world (mitzvot), fulfilling God’s commandments, and creating a just, compassionate society.

Anatta:

• • Is non-theistic and rooted in Buddhist philosophy, where no supreme deity governs the universe. Instead, impermanence (anicca), suffering (dukkha), and non-self (anatta) define reality.
  • Encourages inward reflection and meditation to transcend ego and realize the nature of reality as transient and interconnected.

 

4. Practices

Anavah:

• • Journaling and Reflection: Practices include self-assessment to identify areas of arrogance or false humility.
  • Community Engagement: Active participation in communal life to cultivate humility through service.
  • Prayer and Study: Recognizing God’s greatness and one’s dependence on divine providence reinforces humility.
  • Gratitude Practices: Acknowledging the good in others and in life fosters humility.

Anatta:

• • Meditation and Mindfulness: Vipassana (insight meditation) is a key practice to observe the transient nature of thoughts, emotions, and the “self.”
  • Non-Attachment Practices: Cultivating detachment from egoic desires and identifications.
  • Reflection on Impermanence: Contemplating the impermanence of all phenomena reduces clinging to the self.

 

5. Challenges and Shadow Aspects

Anavah:

• • Challenge: Balancing humility with self-respect. Overemphasis on anavah can lead to passivity or diminished self-worth.
  • Shadow Aspect: False humility or self-deprecation, where individuals feign humility while harboring hidden pride.

Anatta:

• • Challenge: Misinterpreting anatta as nihilism or apathy, leading to disengagement from the world.
  • Shadow Aspect: Using anatta as an excuse to avoid responsibility or relationships by claiming the self is illusory.

 

6. Intersections

• • Ego Reduction:
    • Both anavah and anatta emphasize minimizing ego. However, anavah seeks a balanced ego in service to others and God, while anatta seeks the dissolution of the ego entirely.
  • Interconnectedness:
    • Anavah acknowledges interconnectedness through divine creation, where all beings are reflections of God’s image (tzelem Elokim).
    • Anatta views interconnectedness as the natural state of reality, arising from interdependent causes and conditions.
  • Practical Compassion:
    • Both traditions foster compassion—anavah through humility that leads to service, and anatta by dissolving barriers between self and others.

 

Key Differences

Aspect	Anavah (Mussar)	Anatta (Buddhism)
Self-Concept	Balances the ego within a divine framework	Seeks to dissolve the illusion of self
Theological Context	Theistic; centered on relationship with God	Non-theistic; centered on liberation
Goal	Ethical living and fulfilling divine purpose	Liberation from suffering
Primary Practice	Community engagement and gratitude	Meditation and mindfulness
Attachment	Retains a healthy sense of self	Discourages attachment to any self-concept

 

SMART Goals to Integrate Anavah and Anatta

Goal 1: Balance Humility with Self-Respect (Anavah)

• • Observation: Overemphasis on humility can lead to self-neglect or passivity.
  • Feeling: A need to maintain self-worth while practicing humility.
  • Need: To honor one’s divinely given strengths and purpose.
  • Request: Engage in a daily practice of gratitude for personal abilities and achievements.

SMART Goal: Specific: Write three things you are grateful for about yourself weekly.

• • Measurable: Track these reflections in a journal for one month.
  • Achievable: Spend 5 minutes daily reflecting.
  • Relevant: Reinforces hakarat hatov (gratitude) and balanced humility.
  • Timely: Start immediately and review after four weeks.

 

Goal 2: Cultivate Detachment from Egoic Desires (Anatta)

• • Observation: Attachment to identity creates suffering and limits humility.
  • Feeling: A desire for freedom from ego-driven thoughts.
  • Need: To recognize impermanence and interconnectedness.
  • Request: Practice mindfulness meditation focused on observing thoughts without attachment.

SMART Goal: Specific: Dedicate 10 minutes daily to mindfulness meditation, observing thoughts about identity or desires.

• • Measurable: Track meditation sessions and journal insights weekly.
  • Achievable: Use guided meditations if needed.
  • Relevant: Aligns with Buddhist anatta and reduces egoic clinging.
  • Timely: Begin within one week and review progress monthly.

 

By integrating anavah and anatta, one can cultivate humility rooted in self-awareness while reducing egoic attachments, fostering both personal growth and liberation from suffering.