The Practice Before Enlightenment

Thoroughly clarify the conceptual content of the five aggregates (pañca-skandha), then, in every present moment of all your bodily, verbal, and mental actions, separate out the functions and operations of your five aggregates one by one—find out what the aggregate of form is, what the aggregate of feeling is, what the aggregate of perception is, what the aggregate of volitional formations is, and what the aggregate of consciousness is.

After identifying all five aggregates, knock them all down with a single punch—none of them is me—and then investigate Chan (dhyāna)!

When Zhaozhou placed his shoes on top of his head, which was the aggregate of form, which was the aggregate of feeling, which was the aggregate of perception, which was the aggregate of volitional formations, and which was the aggregate of consciousness?

When Nanquan took up a knife to slay the cat, which was the aggregate of form, which was the aggregate of feeling, which was the aggregate of perception, which was the aggregate of volitional formations, and which was the aggregate of consciousness? And what about that other one?

When I handed the knife to Nanquan, which was the aggregate of form, which was the aggregate of feeling, which was the aggregate of perception, which was the aggregate of volitional formations, and which was the aggregate of consciousness? And then, what about that one?