If there is no permanent self, who actually reincarnates? Explore how karma flows like a river to reach enlightenment without a fixed ego.

What moves forward is not a metaphysical passenger, but a causal momentum—a 'karmic stream' of habits, tendencies, and predispositions. You inherit the consequences of your previous actions not because you are the same person, but because you are the same flow.
I want to tackle the Buddhist concept of non-self and instead the self is a flowing river and I want to understand in some schools how that concept is reconciled with the idea of reincarnation or enlightenment. What part of that non-existent self reincarnates or is enlightened?

Создано выпускниками Колумбийского университета в Сан-Франциско
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Создано выпускниками Колумбийского университета в Сан-Франциско

If you are a flowing river, who exactly is it that reaches the ocean of enlightenment? It is a classic riddle: how can you reincarnate if there is no "you" to begin with? You might assume a soul is like a passenger changing cars, but in Buddhism, it is more like one candle lighting another—the flame continues, but no solid object moves. We are diving into how your memories and traits form a "karmic stream" that flows forward without needing a permanent ego. Ready to see how the river finally settles?