Khandha

The Khandhas, also known as the five aggregates or five heaps, are a fundamental concept in Buddhism used to analyze the nature of sentient beings and their experience of existence. They are not considered inherent or permanent entities but rather constantly changing processes that constitute what we perceive as a self. Understanding the Khandhas is crucial for developing insight into impermanence, suffering, and non-self, which are central tenets of Buddhist philosophy.

The five Khandhas are form (rupa), feeling (vedana), perception (sanna), mental formations (sankhara), and consciousness (vinnana). Form refers to the physical body and material world. Feeling encompasses pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral sensations that arise through contact with sensory objects. Perception is the ability to recognize, identify, and conceptualize experiences. Mental formations represent volitional activities, thoughts, intentions, and mental habits. Consciousness is the awareness of objects and mental states.

Buddhism teaches that there is no permanent, unchanging self or soul that exists independently of these five aggregates. Instead, what we commonly refer to as "self" is a temporary and ever-changing collection of these Khandhas. By deeply contemplating the impermanent and interdependent nature of the Khandhas, one can gradually weaken the illusion of a separate self, leading to a reduction of attachment, aversion, and ultimately, suffering. This understanding is a cornerstone of the path to liberation.