Eastern Enlightenment religions have gained popularity throughout the Western world in recent decades, with many people attracted to a "different" way of experiencing religion. Like many other Enlightenment religions, Buddhism requires disciples to understand concepts that are not easily explained: one such concept is that of no-self. In this essay I will discuss the non-self from a number of modern perspectives; however, since the non-self is difficult to describe, I will focus on both the self and the non-self. Beginning with the psychological aspects and neurophysiological research on transcendental meditation, I will discuss the impact of modern brain science on our understanding of the self and transcendence. Next I will describe the relationship between quantum physics and non-locality, as this provides a Western scientific explanation for non-self. Returning to the original source of Buddhism, I will briefly outline the discussion between Siddhartha and Vaccha regarding atman, then discuss the mind and non-self and their relationship to liberation. Finally I will summarize some problems that the Western mentality may encounter when approaching this topic. The Buddhist concept of "no-self" is an essential element in the path to spiritual freedom presented by the Buddha Gautama Siddhartha Sakyamuni. Many Buddhists claim that at the age of thirty-five Siddhatta achieved samyaksambodhi, a state of supreme enlightenment, while meditating under a tree. He was born into excess and protected from life, and then chose to live as an aesthetic. He found that the former stifled the spirit and the latter stifled the mind: the only answer was a middle path of moderation. Siddhatta then lived and taught in his own way for another forty-five years... middle of paper... hs, P. (2007). On being mindless. Illinois: Open CourtHopfe, L.M., & Woodward, M.R. (2007). World Religions (10th ed.) New Jersey: Prentice Hall.Newberg, A., Alavi, A., Baime, M., Pourdehnad, M., Santanna, J., & D'Aquili, E. (2001) . Measuring regional cerebral blood flow during the complex cognitive task of meditation: a preliminary SPECT study. Research in Psychiatry: Neuroimaging, 106(2), 113-122. Robinson, R. R. (1994). Some methodological approaches to unexplained points. Philosophy 2B/3B (pp. 27-34). Melbourne: La Trobe University. Weiten, W. (2005). Psychology: Themes and Variations (shorter version 6th ed.) Belmont: Wadsworth.Wilson, R. A. (1990). Quantum psychology: How brain software programs you and your world. Tempe: New Falcon. Vetter, T. (1988). The ideas and meditative practices of early Buddhism. New York: EJ Brill.