What are the five “aggregates” (skandhas) and how do they relate to the doctrine of Anatman?

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Psychology

What are the five “aggregates” (skandhas) and how do they relateto the doctrine of Anatman?

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Five Skandhas or aggregates which are basically the five aspects of a human being Form or the body Feelings or our basic positive negative or neutral reactions to stimuli Perception the basic process of labeling or identifying things Consciousness our awareness of sights sounds smells tastes touch and thoughts and Mental Fabrications all of our active processes of mind On to the Five Skandhas The First Skandha Form Rupa Rupa is form or matter something material that can be sensed In early Buddhist literature rupa includes the Four Great Elements solidity fluidity heat and motion and their derivatives These derivatives are the first five faculties listed above eye ear nose tongue body and the first five corresponding objects visible form sound odor taste tangible things Another way to understand rupa is to think of it as something that resists the probing of the senses For example an object has a form if it blocks your vision you cant see whats on the other side of it or if it blocks your hand from occupying its space The Second Skandha Sensation Vedana Vedana is a physical or mental sensation that we experience through contact of the six faculties with the external world In other words it is the sensation experienced through the contact of eye with visible form the ear with sound nose with odor tongue with taste body with tangible things mind manas with ideas or thoughts It is    See Answer
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