In short: The Buddha described a person not as a fixed self but as five changing "heaps" or aggregates (khandha): form, feeling, perception, choices and consciousness. In SN 22.48 he distinguishes the five aggregates from the five grasping aggregates: the same five, when they are clung to.
The five in plain English
| Aggregate | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Form (rūpa) | the body and the physical world |
| Feeling (vedanā) | pleasant, painful or neutral tone |
| Perception (saññā) | recognizing and labeling |
| Choices (saṅkhārā) | intentions, volitions, habits |
| Consciousness (viññāṇa) | knowing through the senses and mind |
Seen clearly as changing processes, none of them is "me" or "mine": see the discourse on not-self and the foam simile.
Read the full guide
The full text in Pāli and English
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral (SN22.48). Ellipses (…) are abbreviations in the original. Notes are ANEW's.
| Pāli | English |
|---|---|
| Sāvatthinidānaṁ. | At Sāvatthī. |
| “Pañca, bhikkhave, khandhe desessāmi, pañcupādānakkhandhe ca. | “Mendicants, I will teach you the five aggregates and the five grasping aggregates. |
| Taṁ suṇātha. | Listen … |
| Katame ca, bhikkhave, pañcakkhandhā? | And what are the five aggregates? |
| Yaṁ kiñci, bhikkhave, rūpaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikaṁ vā sukhumaṁ vā hīnaṁ vā paṇītaṁ vā yaṁ dūre santike vā, ayaṁ vuccati rūpakkhandho. | Any kind of form at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: this is called the aggregate of form. |
| Yā kāci vedanā …pe… | Any kind of feeling at all … |
| yā kāci saññā … | Any kind of perception at all … |
| ye keci saṅkhārā atītānāgatapaccuppannā ajjhattaṁ vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikā vā sukhumā vā …pe… ayaṁ vuccati saṅkhārakkhandho. | Any kind of choices at all … |
| Yaṁ kiñci viññāṇaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikaṁ vā sukhumaṁ vā hīnaṁ vā paṇītaṁ vā yaṁ dūre santike vā, ayaṁ vuccati viññāṇakkhandho. | Any kind of consciousness at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: this is called the aggregate of consciousness. |
| Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, pañcakkhandhā. | These are called the five aggregates. |
| Katame ca, bhikkhave, pañcupādānakkhandhā? | And what are the five grasping aggregates? |
| Yaṁ kiñci, bhikkhave, rūpaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ …pe… yaṁ dūre santike vā sāsavaṁ upādāniyaṁ, ayaṁ vuccati rūpupādānakkhandho. | Any kind of form at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near, which is accompanied by defilements and fuels grasping: this is called the grasping aggregate of form. |
| Yā kāci vedanā …pe… yā dūre santike vā sāsavā upādāniyā, ayaṁ vuccati vedanupādānakkhandho. | Any kind of feeling at all … |
| Yā kāci saññā …pe… yā dūre santike vā sāsavā upādāniyā, ayaṁ vuccati saññupādānakkhandho. | Any kind of perception at all … |
| Ye keci saṅkhārā …pe… sāsavā upādāniyā, ayaṁ vuccati saṅkhārupādānakkhandho. | Any kind of choices at all … |
| Yaṁ kiñci viññāṇaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ …pe… yaṁ dūre santike vā sāsavaṁ upādāniyaṁ, ayaṁ vuccati viññāṇupādānakkhandho. | Any kind of consciousness at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near, which is accompanied by defilements and fuels grasping: this is called the grasping aggregate of consciousness. |
| Ime vuccanti, bhikkhave, pañcupādānakkhandhā”ti. | These are called the five grasping aggregates.” |
| Chaṭṭhaṁ. |
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Questions people ask
What are the five aggregates?
Form, feeling, perception, choices (volitional formations) and consciousness: the five groups the Buddha used to describe a person without assuming a fixed self.
What are the grasping aggregates?
The same five aggregates when they are clung to as 'mine' or 'self'. In SN 22.48 the Buddha distinguishes the aggregates from the grasping aggregates.