The middle way doctrine of "no self" which the Awakened One proclaimed is the heart and very essence of Buddhism. It is beyond both eternalism and nihilism，and enables us to distinguish between the dharma and other teachings. However，this doctrine of "on self" which accepts a fruit for deeds but no doer，is very profound，hard to see, and not easy to penetrate. The terms "self" and "no self" moreover have many meanings. If we interpret them only by looking at their renderings in Chinese Buddhist texts, misunderstandings are bound to arise. It is impossible to realistically observe the "self" which is essentially empty and arises in compliance with conditions, or to know well the "self" which is a conventional term of worldly parlance，unless one understands "no self" as it really is on the level of absolute truth. One may even follow the example of other teachers and fall into the trap of "the extreme view of no self"，or outrightly accept a "true self" as taught in different religions.
Belief in "the extreme view of no self" and clinging to an "truly existing self" leads into `samsara`. Only if one knows in accordance with reality that there is merely a "self" which is conditioned and relative，but no independently existing，eternal，absolute，self-mastering "self", is it possible to practice in conformity with the dharma, attain bodhi，and realize `nibbana`. In order to strive for one's owm liberation，one must contemplate in a profound way this no self，no mine, and absence of the tendency for pride so that one can personally gain realization and benefit one-self. If you want to liberate all beings, it is necessary to operate in conjunction with emptiness following causes and conditions, i.e. acting without a self. Only thus is it possible to benefit others on a large scale.
It is not only difficult in Chinese to indicate clearly what "self" and "no self" denote. The same problem exists in Sanskrit and Pali. Based on the four Agamas of the Northern Tradition，the present paper collates the five `Nikayas` of the Southern Tradition while analyzing the contents of the different views on "self" and "no self"，listing the various approaches to the observation of no self and no mine，and pointing out the practical methods for abandoning and cutting off the views of "self" and "mine" as well as the tendency for pride. It hopefully helps the reader to realize step by step "no self" and "no mine" up to the complete extinction in of pride and the direct experience of `nibbana`.
