Often translated as "no-self": One of the "three marks of existence" in Buddhist doctrine, with *anicca* and *dukkha*. [[Romeo Stevens]]: >Anatta is pointing to the inverse of a specific mental event, Atta. If we see it more like a noun it might be translated as ‘essence’ and if we translate it like a verb it might be translated as ‘to take/have control/ownership of.’ Together we have the notion that if something has a real immutable character or ‘essence’ to it that we understand, then we can really control it and that this control won’t be subject to change. > >The point is to notice the mental event that represents objects or concepts as though they could or should be inherently or essentially controllable/ownable. > >When we engage with anatta, we might think that of course our sense of what we control isn’t always aligned with what we can actually control. No, not better calibrated models! Right now in your direct experience there is a sense of some sensations controlling other sensations. This is the anatta to investigate!