Anchor Chart: Saṅkhārakkhandha (Mental Formations)

 

Overview

Saṅkhārakkhandha, or the aggregate of mental formations, encompasses volitional activities and mental constructs. It plays a crucial role in the understanding of the five aggregates in Buddhist teaching.

Major Categories of Mental Formations

1. Kusala (Wholesome) Factors
2. Akusala (Unwholesome) Factors
3. Abyākata (Neutral) Factors

Important Mental Formations

• Cetanā (Volition): The intention behind actions.
• Phassa (Contact): The interaction of the senses with their objects.
• Manasikāra (Attention): The act of focusing the mind on an object.
• Vitakka (Initial Application): The first thought directed towards an object.
• Vicāra (Sustained Application): The sustained thought or consideration of an object.

Key Characteristics of All Aggregates

• Anicca (Impermanent): Everything is in a constant state of change.
• Dukkha (Unsatisfactory): All experiences contain elements of suffering or dissatisfaction.
• Anattā (Non-self): There is no permanent, unchanging self within the aggregates.

The Buddha's Teachings from the Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (SN 22.59)

"Rūpaṃ, bhikkhave, anattā, vedanā anattā, saññā anattā, saṅkhārā anattā, viññāṇaṃ anattā"
"Form is non-self, feeling is non-self, perception is non-self, mental formations are non-self, consciousness is non-self."

All aggregates are subject to udayabbaya (the constant arising and passing away), and understanding their true nature leads to liberation:

"Iti rūpaṃ, iti rūpassa samudayo, iti rūpassa atthaṅgamo"
"Thus is form, thus is the arising of form, thus is the passing away of form."

Important Teachings about the Aggregates

1. From Khajjanīya Sutta (SN 22.79):

   • Rūpa is afflicted (ruppati).
   • Vedanā feels (vedayati).
   • Saññā perceives (sañjānāti).
   • Saṅkhāra constructs the conditioned (abhisaṅkharonti).
   • Viññāṇa cognizes (vijānāti).

2. The Buddha taught that all aggregates are:

   • Anicca (Impermanent): "Sabbe saṅkhārā aniccā"
   • Dukkha (Unsatisfactory): "Sabbe saṅkhārā dukkhā"
   • Anattā (Non-self): "Sabbe dhammā anattā"

3. From Phena Sutta (SN 22.95), the aggregates are compared to:

   • Rūpa is like a foam ball.
   • Vedanā is like a water bubble.
   • Saññā is like a mirage.
   • Saṅkhāra is like a plantain trunk.
   • Viññāṇa is like a magical illusion.

Path to Liberation

Understanding these aggregates deeply through vipassanā meditation leads to:

• Dispassion (Virāga)
• Liberation (Vimutti)
• Nibbāna

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This chart serves as a concise summary of Saṅkhārakkhandha, emphasizing its significance in the context of Buddhist philosophy and meditation practices.