user5801: From my perspective, the two biggest obstacles to to perfect understanding of Dharma is the apparent contradictions between "Tanha" and "Right Aspiration" and Anatta vs Buddha's condemnation of nihilism (SN 1.96: “The nihilist…goes to terrible hell…from darkness to darkness”) and his teachings on rebirth. 
Tanha, "thirst" (desire) is given as the primary cause of Dukkha and yet "right Aspiration" (basically desire) is part of the 8 fold path. Clearly Buddha did not condemn "desire" if you define it as wanting something you don't have. So what distinguishes between the two? 
Anatta doctrine held by some Buddhist, that there ultimately is no-soul or self and nothing really "exists" but is empty of inherent existence and therefore insubstantial and suffering is basically nihilist. This contradicts Buddha's teaching on rebirth and Nirvana (the unborn, unmade, unconditioned etc. makes liberation from the born, made, conditioned possible). No matter how you want to spin it, if your position is that the soul does not exists and there is no self outside of conditioned existence, then you are doomed to the grave and there is zero possibility for enlightenment or liberation from Samsara because how can an "illusion" that doesn't exists be "enlightened" or "saved"? The only option for a mind made illusion is to simply cease to exist once the causes that create the illusion (the body 5 kandas etc.) dies. You just fade to black, no karma, no rebirth, no Nirvana, no enlightenment no nothing. How do you resolve this seeming contradiction?

user8157: 
Anatta doctrine held by some Buddhist, that there ultimately is no-soul or self

Correct.

and nothing really "exists"

Incorrect. Mind & body exist. Five aggregates exist. Nibbana exists. 

but is empty of inherent existence

Empty of 'self' existence. Empty of permanent existence. But exist temporarily. 

and therefore insubstantial

The five aggregates are 'insubstantial' due to their impermanence. But not Nibbana.

and suffering

This is a mistranslation. In respect to the five aggregates, the translation is 'unsatisfactory' because impermanent things cannot bring lasting happiness. 

is basically nihilist.

In Buddhism, 'nihilism' refers to the (wrong non-Buddhist) view that there is a 'self' that ends at death. Since Buddhism explains there is no self to die, it is not nihilist. 

This contradicts Buddha's teaching on rebirth

'Rebirth' refers to the re-arising of 'self-view' due to ignorance. There is no contradiction. 

and Nirvana (the unborn, unmade, unconditioned etc. makes liberation from the born, made, conditioned possible).

Nirvana is the peace that is known by the mind when 'self-view' & craving end. There is no contradiction. 

No matter how you want to spin it, if your position is that the soul does not exists and there is no self outside of conditioned existence,
  then you are doomed to the grave and there is zero possibility for
  enlightenment or liberation from Samsara

'Samsara' simply refers to the mind spinning around in 'self-views' due to craving & ignorance. 

because how can an "illusion" that doesn't exists be "enlightened" or "saved"?

What is saved is the 'mind'. In Buddhism, it is called 'ceto-vimutti', which means 'mind-liberation'. When the mind is cleansed of greed, hatred & delusion, it is 'saved'. That the mind has a illusory quality is irrelevant to this salvation.

The only option for a mind made illusion is to simply cease to exist
  once the causes that create the illusion (the body 5 kandas etc.)
  dies.

The mind is an illusion rather than life. For example, the planet earth is not really an illusion. It is only the mental perceptions (of earth) that are 'illusory'.  The earth is very solid and has existed for billions of years. But the mind exists for moment, ceases & then arises for another illusory impermanent fleeting moment.

You just fade to black, no karma, no rebirth, no Nirvana, no enlightenment no nothing. How do you resolve this seeming
  contradiction?

Yes. It can seem to be like a 'contradiction'. But when the mind is free from greed, hatred & delusion, what seems to be 'contradictory' to an ignorant unenlightened mind will vanish. 
The Buddha was never under the illusion that all individuals could comprehend his Dhamma.

5801: <p>From my perspective, the two biggest obstacles to to perfect understanding of Dharma is the apparent contradictions between "Tanha" and "Right Aspiration" and Anatta vs Buddha's condemnation of nihilism (SN 1.96: “The nihilist…goes to terrible hell…from darkness to darkness”) and his teachings on rebirth. </p>

<p>Tanha, "thirst" (desire) is given as the primary cause of Dukkha and yet "right Aspiration" (basically desire) is part of the 8 fold path. Clearly Buddha did not condemn "desire" if you define it as wanting something you don't have. So what distinguishes between the two? </p>

<p>Anatta doctrine held by some Buddhist, that there ultimately is no-soul or self and nothing really "exists" but is empty of inherent existence and therefore insubstantial and suffering is basically nihilist. This contradicts Buddha's teaching on rebirth and Nirvana (the unborn, unmade, unconditioned etc. makes liberation from the born, made, conditioned possible). No matter how you want to spin it, if your position is that the soul does not exists and there is no self outside of conditioned existence, then you are doomed to the grave and there is zero possibility for enlightenment or liberation from Samsara because how can an "illusion" that doesn't exists be "enlightened" or "saved"? The only option for a mind made illusion is to simply cease to exist once the causes that create the illusion (the body 5 kandas etc.) dies. You just fade to black, no karma, no rebirth, no Nirvana, no enlightenment no nothing. How do you resolve this seeming contradiction?</p>
 8157: <blockquote>
  <p><em>Anatta doctrine held by some Buddhist, that there ultimately is no-soul or self</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Correct.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>and nothing really "exists"</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Incorrect. Mind &amp; body exist. Five aggregates exist. Nibbana exists. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>but is empty of inherent existence</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Empty of 'self' existence. Empty of permanent existence. But exist temporarily. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>and therefore insubstantial</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>The five aggregates are 'insubstantial' due to their impermanence. But not Nibbana.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>and suffering</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>This is a mistranslation. In respect to the five aggregates, the translation is 'unsatisfactory' because impermanent things cannot bring lasting happiness. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>is basically nihilist.</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>In Buddhism, 'nihilism' refers to the (wrong non-Buddhist) view that there is a 'self' that ends at death. Since Buddhism explains there is no self to die, it is not nihilist. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>This contradicts Buddha's teaching on rebirth</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>'Rebirth' refers to the re-arising of 'self-view' due to ignorance. There is no contradiction. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>and Nirvana (the unborn, unmade, unconditioned etc. makes liberation from the born, made, conditioned possible).</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Nirvana is the peace that is known by the mind when 'self-view' &amp; craving end. There is no contradiction. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>No matter how you want to spin it, if your position is that the soul does not exists and there is no self outside of conditioned existence,
  then you are doomed to the grave and there is zero possibility for
  enlightenment or liberation from Samsara</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>'Samsara' simply refers to the mind spinning around in 'self-views' due to craving &amp; ignorance. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>because how can an "illusion" that doesn't exists be "enlightened" or "saved"?</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>What is saved is the 'mind'. In Buddhism, it is called 'ceto-vimutti', which means 'mind-liberation'. When the mind is cleansed of greed, hatred &amp; delusion, it is 'saved'. That the mind has a illusory quality is irrelevant to this salvation.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>The only option for a mind made illusion is to simply cease to exist
  once the causes that create the illusion (the body 5 kandas etc.)
  dies.</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>The mind is an illusion rather than life. For example, the planet earth is not really an illusion. It is only the <em>mental perceptions</em> (of earth) that are 'illusory'.  The earth is very solid and has existed for billions of years. But the mind exists for moment, ceases &amp; then arises for another illusory impermanent fleeting moment.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>You just fade to black, no karma, no rebirth, no Nirvana, no enlightenment no nothing. How do you resolve this seeming
  contradiction?</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Yes. It can seem to be like a '<em>contradiction</em>'. But when the mind is free from greed, hatred &amp; delusion, what seems to be '<em>contradictory</em>' to an ignorant unenlightened mind will vanish. </p>

<p>The Buddha was never under the illusion that all individuals could comprehend his Dhamma.</p>
