[Buddha-l] query about a term in Japanese zen, translated as "soul" in one text.

[Jo]

Good point, Christopher. 
Also, as long as it's required to believe that transmigration happens, then something there is that has to transmigrate. The Tibetans seem to be trying to get around the anatta conundrum by inventing the subtles.
Joanna

On Behalf Of Christopher Fynn
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2012 9:35 PM.

Not directly related to the question  What is the Japanese term for "soul" but in his introduction to Gyurme Dorje's translation of "The Tibetan Book of the Dead" the Dalai Lama first says that Buddhist philosophy does not accept the existence of an independent autonomous entity, known as the 'self', essence or 'soul' of a person - but he then goes on to speak of a "subtle body" and "subtle mind", and a "subtle person or self which is designated in dependence on the subtle body and subtle mind".

Now as soon as you have  a notion of a "subtle person or self" which survives physical death - I can see someone translating that as "soul"