Aggregates and Intention

Textual analysis and comparative discussion on early Buddhist sects and scriptures.
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Ceisiwr
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Aggregates and Intention

Post by Ceisiwr »

Another sutra with no parallel. In this one, the aggregates are said to arise due to former intention and deeds
Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. At that time the venerable Sāriputta approached the venerable Ānanda. Having exchanged polite greetings, the venerable Sāriputta withdrew to sit at one side and then asked the venerable Ānanda: “I would like to ask a question. Friend, would you have free time to show me the answer?”

Ānanda said: “Friend, you can just ask, on knowing it I shall reply.”

Sāriputta said: “Ānanda, regarding one who has realized cessation: What is cessation? Who has realized this cessation?”

Ānanda said: “Sāriputta, the five aggregates of clinging are the product of former deeds, of former intentions. They are impermanent and of a nature to cease. Because of their nature to cease, this is called cessation. What are the five? That is, the bodily form aggregate of clinging is the product of former deeds, of former intentions. It is impermanent and of a nature to cease. Because of its nature to cease, this is called cessation. In the same way feeling … perception … formations … consciousness is the product of former deeds, of former intentions. It is impermanent and of a nature to cease. Because of its nature to cease, this is called cessation.”

Sāriputta said: “Indeed, indeed, Ānanda, as you said: these five aggregates of clinging are the product of former deeds, of former intentions. They are impermanent and of a nature to cease. Because of their nature to cease, this is called cessation. What are the five? That is, the bodily form aggregate of clinging is the product of former deeds, of former intentions. It is impermanent and of a nature to cease. Because of its nature to cease, this is called cessation. In the same way feeling … perception … formations … consciousness is the product of former deeds, of former intentions. It is impermanent and of a nature to cease. Because of its nature to cease, this is called cessation.

“Ānanda, if these five aggregates of clinging were not the product of former deeds, of former intentions, how could they cease? Ānanda, because the five aggregates of clinging are the product of former deeds, of former intentions, they are impermanent and of a nature to cease. Because of their nature to cease, this is called cessation.”

Then the two worthy ones delighted in hearing what each other had said and left.
https://suttacentral.net/sa260/en/anala ... ight=false
“Knowing that this body is just like foam,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
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retrofuturist
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Re: Aggregates and Intention

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,

I like it. Understanding aggregates as I do, you'll probably not be surprised by this.

Metta,
Paul. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
SarathW
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Re: Aggregates and Intention

Post by SarathW »

if these five aggregates of clinging
It is important to note that Budha is talking about the five aggregates of clinging not the five aggregates.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
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Ceisiwr
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Re: Aggregates and Intention

Post by Ceisiwr »

retrofuturist wrote: Tue Dec 06, 2022 10:25 pm Greetings,

I like it. Understanding aggregates as I do, you'll probably not be surprised by this.

Metta,
Paul. :)
Whatever your thoughts, the parallels are quite interesting to read even if they have no parallel. It's like when I read the suttas for the first time again. Charles Patton said that the Sarvāstivādin texts sometimes read better than the suttas. I think that is sometimes true. Interesting to see what northern Buddhists were hearing/reading for centuries.
“Knowing that this body is just like foam,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
asahi
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Re: Aggregates and Intention

Post by asahi »

There was an error translation in the sutra , it was due to the translator Gunabhadra was a Mahayana monk .

阿難言:「舍利弗!五受陰是 ~ 本行所作、本所思願,是無常、滅法,彼法滅故,是名為滅。


本行所作 previous sankhara
本所思願 preceding craving
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pegembara
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Re: Aggregates and Intention

Post by pegembara »

“Ānanda, if these five aggregates of clinging were not the product of former deeds, of former intentions, how could they cease? Ānanda, because the five aggregates of clinging are the product of former deeds, of former intentions, they are impermanent and of a nature to cease. Because of their nature to cease, this is called cessation.”
The question is when do they cease?
“Mendicants, when the perception of cessation is developed and cultivated it’s very fruitful and beneficial. How so? It’s when a mendicant develops the perception of cessation together with the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go. That’s how, when the perception of cessation is developed and cultivated, it’s very fruitful and beneficial.

When the perception of cessation is developed and cultivated you can expect one of two results: enlightenment in the present life, or if there’s something left over, non-return. How so? It’s when a mendicant develops the perception of cessation together with the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go. When the perception of cessation is developed and cultivated in this way you can expect one of two results: enlightenment in the present life, or if there’s something left over, non-return.”

“The perception of cessation, when developed and cultivated, leads to great benefit … great sanctuary … great inspiration … great ease. How so? It’s when a mendicant develops the perception of cessation together with the awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go. That’s how the perception of cessation, when developed and cultivated, leads to great benefit … great sanctuary … great inspiration … great ease.”

https://suttacentral.net/sn46.76/en/suj ... ript=latin
“When one has attained the first jhāna, the perception of sensuality has ceased. When one has attained the second jhāna, directed thoughts & evaluations [verbal fabrications] have ceased. When one has attained the third jhāna, rapture has ceased. When one has attained the fourth jhāna, in-and-out breaths [bodily fabrications] have ceased. When one has attained the dimension of the infinitude of space, the perception of forms has ceased. When one has attained the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness, the perception of the dimension of the infinitude of space has ceased. When one has attained the dimension of nothingness, the perception of the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness has ceased. When one has attained the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, the perception of the dimension of nothingness has ceased. When one has attained the cessation of perception & feeling, perceptions & feelings [mental fabrications] have ceased.

“These are the nine step-by-step cessations.”

https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/AN/AN9_31.html
The monk who abides in universal love and is deeply devoted to the Teaching of the Buddha attains the peace of Nibbana, the bliss of the cessation of all conditioned things.

- Dhammapada 368
"By & large, Kaccayana, this world is supported by (takes as its object) a polarity, that of existence & non-existence. But when one sees the origination of the world as it actually is with right discernment, 'non-existence' with reference to the world does not occur to one. When one sees the cessation of the world as it actually is with right discernment, 'existence' with reference to the world does not occur to one.

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitak ... .than.html
And what is right speech? Abstaining from lying, from divisive speech, from abusive speech, & from idle chatter: This is called right speech.
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mjaviem
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Re: Aggregates and Intention

Post by mjaviem »

Ceisiwr wrote: Tue Dec 06, 2022 9:44 pm ... sutra with no parallel...
Alright, and I guess SN 12.39 is a relevant Sutta nevertheless where it's said that intention is the basis for the establishment of viññana and when viññana is established and comes to growth then nama-rupa appears, so the sense-bases appear, so contact appear, and we know that with contact the other aggregates come to be. So it seems you're right in saying that the aggregates arise when intending and planning. I believe consummate ones don't intend and don't plan and they're free and at peace.
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammā Sambuddhassa
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