Selected Lectures on Saṃyukta Āgama, Volume 1

Saṃyuktāgama, Volume One  3

The World-Honored One addressed the bhikṣus: If the mind does not understand the form aggregate, does not comprehend it, does not relinquish desire for it, and does not detach from desire, but still clings to the form aggregate, one cannot end birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair. Regarding the feeling aggregate, perception aggregate, volitional formations aggregate, and consciousness aggregate, if one does not understand them, does not comprehend them, does not relinquish desire for them, does not detach from desire, and the mind still clings to the feeling aggregate, perception aggregate, volitional formations aggregate, and consciousness aggregate, one cannot end birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair.

Bhikṣus, if one can understand the form aggregate, comprehend it, relinquish desire for it, and detach from desire, then one is capable of ending birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair. Regarding the four aggregates of feeling, perception, volitional formations, and consciousness, if one can understand them, comprehend them, relinquish desire for them, and detach from desire, then one is capable of completely ending birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair, thereby attaining liberation.

To cultivate the path of liberation, one must first comprehend the concept and meaning of the five aggregates. Secondly, one must constantly observe the impermanence, falsity, arising and ceasing, change, emptiness, and selflessness of the five aggregates in all situations. Only then can one gradually reduce clinging to the five aggregates, eradicate the view of self, subsequently attain the first dhyāna, sever desire for the five aggregates, and finally exhaust all clinging, ending all afflictions. If one does not comprehend the five aggregates and does not observe them, craving will not diminish, let alone be extinguished, and one will be unable to transcend the suffering of birth and death.  Dispelling ignorance is wisdom; with wisdom, there is liberation. Ignorance is birth and death; when ignorance is completely eradicated, one transcends the suffering of birth and death in the triple world.