Any recomendations for a good book on the Five Aggregates

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8fold
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Any recomendations for a good book on the Five Aggregates

Post by 8fold »

In brief, The Five Aggregates ---I don't understand them.

Can anyone recommend a good book on this topic?

Thank you.
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rowboat
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Re: Any recomendations for a good book on the Five Aggregates

Post by rowboat »

I'd recommend Mathieu Boisvert's The Five Aggregates: Understanding Theravada Psychology and Soteriology: http://www.amazon.com/Five-Aggregates-U ... 0889202575" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Rain soddens what is covered up,
It does not sodden what is open.
Therefore uncover what is covered
That the rain will not sodden it.
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bodom
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Re: Any recomendations for a good book on the Five Aggregates

Post by bodom »

The Five Aggregates: A Study Guide
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/khandha.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Bodom
Liberation is the inevitable fruit of the path and is bound to blossom forth when there is steady and persistent practice. The only requirements for reaching the final goal are two: to start and to continue. If these requirements are met there is no doubt the goal will be attained. This is the Dhamma, the undeviating law.

- BB
vinasp
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Re: Any recomendations for a good book on the Five Aggregates

Post by vinasp »

Hi 8fold,

None of the books which I read made any sense.

Nyanatiloka in his Buddhist Dictionary in the
entry on Khandha says:

"Some writers on Buddhism who have not understood
that the five khandha are just classificatory
groupings, have conceived them as compact entities
( heaps, bundles ), while actually, as stated above,
the groups never exist as such." page 98

If it is just a fivefold classification framework, then
there is really nothing to understand.

The real mystery is what is being classified into these
five groups, or what is a dhamma.

Regards, Vincent.
daverupa
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Re: Any recomendations for a good book on the Five Aggregates

Post by daverupa »

Identity and experience: the constitution of the human being according to early Buddhism & Early Buddhism: a new approach : the I of the beholder, both by Sue Hamilton.
  • "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting oneself one protects others? By the pursuit, development, and cultivation of the four establishments of mindfulness. It is in such a way that by protecting oneself one protects others.

    "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting others one protects oneself? By patience, harmlessness, goodwill, and sympathy. It is in such a way that by protecting others one protects oneself.

- Sedaka Sutta [SN 47.19]
BKh
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Re: Any recomendations for a good book on the Five Aggregates

Post by BKh »

Don't forget the 22nd saṁyutta in the Samyutta Nikaya. Some suttas are here:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .html#sn22" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The complete collection is in The Connected Discourses of the Buddha, Bhikkhu Bodhi Trans.

You might want to consider just reading one or two each day, and then when you get to the end, start at the beginning again. Several times.
| One sutta per day to your inbox | ReadingFaithfully.org Support for reading the Suttas | Citation lookup helper | Instant sutta name lookup | Instant PED lookup | Instant DPPN lookup |
santa100
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Re: Any recomendations for a good book on the Five Aggregates

Post by santa100 »

A schematic of them might help if you're a visual person..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:PancaKhandha" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
8fold
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Re: Any recomendations for a good book on the Five Aggregates

Post by 8fold »

Thank you, everyone.
Nyana
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Re: Any recomendations for a good book on the Five Aggregates

Post by Nyana »

daverupa wrote:Identity and experience: the constitution of the human being according to early Buddhism by Sue Hamilton.
This study is probably the most thorough survey of sutta passages, etc., pertaining to the five aggregates.
8fold
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Re: Any recomendations for a good book on the Five Aggregates

Post by 8fold »

Identity and experience: the constitution of the human being according to early Buddhism ---- $145 !!!

....guess I gotta work on my attachment to money!
Nyana
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Re: Any recomendations for a good book on the Five Aggregates

Post by Nyana »

8fold wrote:Identity and experience: the constitution of the human being according to early Buddhism ---- $145 !!!
It's a decent book but hardly worth that price IMO. If you can get a cheaper used copy or borrow a copy through an inter-library loan, then that would be the way to go.
daverupa
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Re: Any recomendations for a good book on the Five Aggregates

Post by daverupa »

Perhaps ask a local college or university to order it for their library.
  • "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting oneself one protects others? By the pursuit, development, and cultivation of the four establishments of mindfulness. It is in such a way that by protecting oneself one protects others.

    "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting others one protects oneself? By patience, harmlessness, goodwill, and sympathy. It is in such a way that by protecting others one protects oneself.

- Sedaka Sutta [SN 47.19]
danieLion
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Re: Any recomendations for a good book on the Five Aggregates

Post by danieLion »

Ñāṇa wrote:
8fold wrote:Identity and experience: the constitution of the human being according to early Buddhism ---- $145 !!!
It's a decent book but hardly worth that price IMO. If you can get a cheaper used copy or borrow a copy through an inter-library loan, then that would be the way to go.
Like Nana and daverupa say, it's worth whatever you've got to do get a copy (most states/provinces allow photocopying for personal use).
good-will
Daniel
danieLion
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Re: Any recomendations for a good book on the Five Aggregates

Post by danieLion »

Yes, Sue H's book is the one to get.
good-will
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ancientbuddhism
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Re: Any recomendations for a good book on the Five Aggregates

Post by ancientbuddhism »

I just added this to our Early Buddhism Resources page:

Identity and Experience: The Constitution of the Human Being According to Early Buddhism By Sue Hamilton
I say, beware of all enterprises that require new clothes, and not rather a new wearer of clothes.” – Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854

Secure your own mask before assisting others. – NORTHWEST AIRLINES (Pre-Flight Instruction)

A Handful of Leaves
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