The Distinction Between the Form Aggregate and the Form Object

Form dust is material form composed of the four great elements; it is non-sentient, an object that is recognized and acted upon, devoid of initiative, devoid of self-nature, devoid of ignorance and afflictions, and thus cannot be spoken of as pure or impure.

The form aggregate is the function of aggregation upon form dust. Form dust itself lacks initiative and thus lacks the function of aggregation; it is a functional action imposed by the conscious mind upon the physical body. A physical body propelled by the conscious mind is referred to as the form aggregate. When the conscious mind acts upon the physical body, the physical body becomes a living organism; a physical body without the conscious mind acting within it is a non-sentient being, a corpse, one type of form dust. The action of the conscious mind upon the physical body constitutes physical, verbal, and mental actions. Where there is action, there is karma; where there is karma, karmic seeds are left behind. In this way, karmic fruition is aggregated, leading to the karmic fruition of suffering, happiness, and neutrality in future lives.