Khandha Sutta
Aggregates
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
At Savatthi. There the Blessed One said, “Monks, I will teach you the five aggregates and the five clinging-aggregates. Listen and pay close attention. I will speak.”
“As you say, lord,” the monks responded.
The Blessed One said, “Now what, monks, are the five aggregates?
“Whatever form is past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near: that is called the aggregate of form.
“Whatever feeling is past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near: that is called the aggregate of feeling.
“Whatever perception is past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near: that is called the aggregate of perception.
“Whatever (mental) fabrications are past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near: those are called the aggregate of fabrications.
“Whatever consciousness is past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near: that is called the aggregate of consciousness.
“These are called the five aggregates.
“And what are the five clinging-aggregates?
“Whatever form — past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near — is cling-able, offers sustenance, and is accompanied with mental fermentation: that is called form as a clinging-aggregate.
“Whatever feeling — past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near — is cling-able, offers sustenance, and is accompanied with mental fermentation: that is called feeling as a clinging-aggregate.
“Whatever perception — past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near — is cling-able, offers sustenance, and is accompanied with mental fermentation: that is called perception as a clinging-aggregate.
“Whatever (mental) fabrications — past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near — are cling-able, offer sustenance, and are accompanied with mental fermentation: those are called fabrications as a clinging-aggregate.
“Whatever consciousness — past, future, or present; internal or external; blatant or subtle; common or sublime; far or near — is cling-able, offers sustenance, and is accompanied with mental fermentation: that is called consciousness as a clinging-aggregate.
“These are called the five clinging-aggregates.”