Lecture Notes on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (189)

The aggregate of the five aggregates is illusory; the illusory, provisional combination is called a sentient being

Another example: when several people form a group, that group is also illusory. If each of the several people leaves, the group no longer exists. This group comes into being when it is said to exist, and disperses when it is said to disperse—it is not autonomous. When the causes and conditions are complete, it gathers together; that is precisely why it is illusory—existing when said to exist, ceasing when said to cease, without any real existence. This group is merely a false name, a concept—just a term used to express this state. This group is an illusory, provisional name; we simply give the state of this group's gathering the name "a group." This group does not truly exist. Is it a group because A calls it a group, or because B calls it a group? Individually, none can be called a group, and even gathered together it is not called a group. We merely give a name to an illusory appearance that arises from aggregation, for the convenience of language and communication. All dharmas are like this—merely forcibly assigning them a name.

By the same reasoning, the five aggregates are also like this. The five aggregates are gathered together from various conditions; they are a state of provisional existence. This state can arise, can disappear, can disperse; it is not real existence, not imperishable. When the various functions and roles of the five aggregates—the abilities to see, to hear, to taste, and to touch—disperse, the five aggregates no longer exist. Therefore, the five aggregates of sentient beings are also not real. Analyzing the composition of the five aggregates follows the same principle as analyzing the composition of a group. In fact, whatever name is given to the five aggregates would do. We name this form of five aggregates "human being," and name another form of five aggregates "ant" or "mosquito," for the sake of differentiation, but in essence they are all aggregates of the five aggregates. When the functions and roles of the five aggregates disperse and vanish, the sentient being no longer exists. All so-called sentient beings are illusory, provisional combinations.