How the Five Aggregates (pañca-skandha) Operate

Take drinking tea as an example. Drinking tea is a process of the integrated, harmonious functioning of the five aggregates (pañcaskandha); the five aggregates of form, feeling, perception, formations, and consciousness, as well as the eighteen elements of the six faculties, six sense-objects, and six consciousnesses, all take part in it, with faculty, object, and consciousness coming into contact and functioning together as one. The one in charge is the manas, which is responsible for coordinating and regulating the activities of contact, feeling, perception, and volition of the six consciousnesses with the five faculties and six sense-objects. The manas is the most nimble and swift; very often the mind consciousness cannot even notice anything before the matter is already done. The five sense consciousnesses cooperate as if without thought, completely faithful to the manas's intent, and at times the mind consciousness simply cannot fathom it.

The whole process of drinking tea is like this too: if the tea is too hot and spills on the hand, one will startle and fling it away instantly, with no time for the mind consciousness to discern or analyze it. When the manas wants to hold the teacup and wants to drink the tea, faculty and object come into contact, generating the six consciousnesses to cooperate and function, carrying out the manas's instruction, and only then can the tea be drunk. As for the specific functioning of the six faculties and the functioning of the six consciousnesses, you must observe and match them up yourself; especially the details require you to settle your mind and observe them yourself. You need to get the concepts of the five aggregates clear, and get clear on the functions and roles of the eighteen elements.