Listener questions: no-self and universal Buddhism

Prompted by another listener question, we start off clearing up some issues about the “no self” or “anatman” doctrine in Buddhism. Does it mean “no soul”? Short answer, yes with an if; long answer, no with a but. In short, there is a world of difference between the question of a soul in a Christian worldview and anatman in an Indian religious worldview. Moving on from “no self,” we tackle the question of whether or not there’s one thing that unites different Buddhist traditions. Is it “the Buddha”? Or “karma”? Or some other basic tenet or practice that unifies all the various strands of Buddhism? We tackle it head on! By asking if there should be something that unites all Buddhisms? Or should we, to borrow a phrase, celebrate our diversity?