samassa

Samassa is a term in Buddhist philosophy that refers to the mental factor of aggregation or combination. It is one of the twelve nidanas, or links in the chain of dependent origination, which is a central concept in Buddhist teachings. Samassa is often translated as "aggregation" or "collection," and it represents the process by which the mind combines various mental and physical elements to create a unified experience.

In the context of dependent origination, samassa follows the nidana of sankhara, which is the mental formation or volitional activity. Samassa represents the moment when these mental formations are aggregated or collected together to form a coherent mental state or experience. This aggregation can be as simple as a single thought or as complex as a fully realized mental state, such as a perception or a feeling.

The concept of samassa is closely related to the idea of dependent origination, which teaches that all phenomena arise in dependence upon other conditions. In the case of samassa, the aggregation of mental factors depends on the prior existence of sankhara, the mental formations. This interdependence highlights the interconnected nature of all mental and physical phenomena.

Samassa is also a key component in the understanding of the five aggregates (skandhas) in Buddhist philosophy. The five aggregates are the physical form (rupa), feelings (vedana), perceptions (sanna), mental formations (sankhara), and consciousness (vinnana). Samassa represents the process by which these aggregates are combined to create a unified experience of self or being.

In summary, samassa is a fundamental concept in Buddhist philosophy that refers to the mental factor of aggregation or combination. It is a key component in the chain of dependent origination and plays a crucial role in the understanding of the interconnected nature of all phenomena.