The Five Aggregates (Understanding Theravada Psychology and Soteriology)

Book Details:

• Author: Mathieu Boisvert

• Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 1997

• ISBN: 9788170305620

• Pages: 177

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 21.5 cm x 14 cm

• Weight: 362 gm

Book Description:

Back of the Book:

This book explores how Buddhism, while denying a permanent self, perceives identity. Buddhist texts describe the universe and the individual as made up of phenomena that can be categorized into different aggregates. These aggregates form the basis of the concept of "person," yet they must not be mistaken for a permanent entity since all beings are merely an amalgamation of ever-changing phenomena.

Mathieu Boisvert provides a detailed analysis of the five aggregates (pancakkhandha) and the Theravada tradition's understanding of their interaction. The study delves into Buddhist psychology, offering a thorough examination of each aggregate and explaining their role in the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (dependent origination or paticcasamuppada). Boisvert argues that a deep understanding of the aggregates is essential to comprehending the liberation process within Buddhism, as individuals are simply a combination of these aggregates.

This book presents an important contribution to Buddhist studies and is essential for scholars and students interested in Buddhist psychology and the Theravada tradition.

Foreword:

In Buddhist philosophy, the five aggregates (pancakkhandha) explain the relationship between matter and consciousness. Rather than treating these as separate entities, Buddhism views them as inseparably linked. The aggregates are: matter (rupa), sensation (vedana), recognition (sanna), karmic activities (sankhara), and consciousness (vinnana).

• Sensation (vedana) can be either pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral and occurs only in a conscious body.

• Recognition (sanna) arises when consciousness is aware of sensation.

• Karmic activities (sankhara) include forces, volition, and mental activities.

These aggregates work together to explain the process of transmigration or rebirth. Boisvert challenges previous interpretations and argues that the order and interrelation of the aggregates have a significant role in the process of dependent origination.

Introduction:

This study offers a detailed analysis of the five aggregates within the Theravada tradition, aiming to clarify how they interact and how they are fundamental to understanding Buddhist psychology. The aggregates are matter (rupa), sensation (vedana), recognition (sanna), karmic activity (sankhara), and consciousness (vinnana). Understanding these aggregates is crucial to understanding dependent origination (paticcasamuppada), the Buddhist concept of how all phenomena arise and cease based on prior causes.

Boisvert examines the canonical Pali texts and addresses issues such as the significance of the order of the aggregates, which has been debated by previous scholars. The book explores the relationship between the psychological and physical processes in human existence, ultimately revealing the nature of transmigration and liberation.

Key Themes:

• The Five Aggregates: The core focus of the study, discussing their interrelation and significance within the Buddhist worldview.

• Dependent Origination (Paticcasamuppada): The theory of birth, death, and rebirth is explained through the aggregates and how each is involved in the cycle of existence.

• Buddhist Psychology: How the aggregates explain cognitive and emotional processes, linking perception and sensation to our karmic actions.

• Soteriological Implications: Understanding the aggregates is key to understanding liberation (nibbana) in the Theravada tradition.

This book provides a rigorous academic exploration of a central concept in Buddhism, offering new insights and perspectives on the interconnection between mind, body, and the cycle of existence. It is an essential read for those studying Theravada Buddhism, Buddhist philosophy, and Buddhist psychology.