Eternalism

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Eternalism. A belief refuted by Buddhism. In Theravāda, it is the false belief that the self is independent of the body-mind continuum and therefore survives death unchanged (Pāli, sassata-diṭṭhi). In Mahāyāna, it is the false belief in the inherent existence (Skt., svabhāva, ‘own-being’ or ‘essence’) of anything whatsoever (Skt., śāśvata-dṛṣṭi). It is the opposite of nihilism. See further SASSATAVĀDA.