The Aggregates of Perception and Volitional Formations Are the True Meaning of ‘Self’ and ‘Different from Self’.

Original text of the Saṃyuktāgama Sūtra, Scroll Five:「云何见想即是我？谓六想身——眼触生想，耳、鼻、舌、身、意触生想。此六想身一一见是我，是名想即是我。云何见想异我？谓见色是我，想是我所，识是我，想是我所，是名想异我。

「云何见我中想？谓色是我，想在中住，受、行、识是我，想在中住。云何见想中我？谓色是我，于想中住，周遍其四体，是名想中我。

「云何见行是我？谓六思身——眼触生思，耳、鼻、舌、身意触生思。于此六思身一一见是我，是名行即是我。云何见行异我？谓色是我，行是我所。受、想、识是我，行是我所，是名行异我。

「云何见我中行？谓色是我，行在中住。受、想、行、识是我，行在中住，是谓我中行。云何见行中我？谓色是我，于行中住，周遍其四体，谓受、想、识是我，于行中住，周遍其四体，是名行中我。

Explanation: How is it that the aggregate of perception is seen as self? The aggregate of perception is the six perception-bodies: when the eye faculty contacts form objects, eye consciousness arises, and eye consciousness has perception; when the ear faculty contacts sound objects, ear consciousness arises, and ear consciousness has perception; when the nose faculty contacts scent objects, nose consciousness arises, and nose consciousness has perception; when the tongue faculty contacts taste objects, tongue consciousness arises, and tongue consciousness has perception; when the manas contacts mental objects, mind consciousness arises, and mind consciousness has perception. The manas takes these six perceptions all as self, believing that self (manas) is the perception—this is called "perception is the self (manas)."

How is it that perception is seen as different from self? That is to say, the manas believes the aggregate of form is self, and then the aggregate of perception is what self possesses; when the manas takes the aggregates of feeling, volitional formations, and consciousness as self, it will take the aggregate of perception as what self possesses. This is called "perception is different from self."

What is seeing perception as dwelling within self (manas)? That is to say, the manas believes the aggregate of form is self, and the aggregate of perception dwells within the aggregate of form; the manas believes the aggregates of feeling, volitional formations, and consciousness are self, and the aggregate of perception dwells within the aggregates of feeling, volitional formations, and consciousness. The aggregate of perception is what self possesses.

What is seeing self as dwelling within perception? That is to say, the manas believes the aggregate of form is self, the aggregate of form dwells within the aggregate of perception, and self dwells within the aggregate of perception, with the aggregate of perception pervading the four limbs and the whole body. The manas believes the aggregates of feeling, volitional formations, and consciousness are self; the aggregates of feeling, volitional formations, and consciousness dwell within the aggregate of perception, and self dwells within the aggregate of perception, with self pervading the whole body—this is called "self dwelling within perception."

How is it that the aggregate of volitional formations is seen as self? The aggregate of volitional formations is the six volition-bodies: when the eye faculty contacts form objects, eye consciousness arises, and eye consciousness has volition; when the ear faculty contacts sound objects, ear consciousness arises, and ear consciousness has volition; when the nose faculty contacts scent objects, nose consciousness arises, and nose consciousness has volition; when the tongue faculty contacts taste objects, tongue consciousness arises, and tongue consciousness has volition; when the manas contacts mental objects, mind consciousness arises, and mind consciousness has volition. The manas takes these six volitions all as self, believing that self (manas) is the volition—this is called "volitional formations are the self (manas)."

How is it that volitional formations are seen as different from self? That is to say, the manas believes the aggregate of form is self, and then the aggregate of volitional formations is what self possesses; when the manas takes the aggregates of feeling, perception, and consciousness as self, it will take the aggregate of volitional formations as what self possesses. This is called "volitional formations are different from self."

What is seeing volitional formations as dwelling within self (manas)? That is to say, the manas believes the aggregate of form is self, and the aggregate of volitional formations dwells within the aggregate of form; the manas believes the aggregates of feeling, perception, and consciousness are self, and the aggregate of volitional formations dwells within the aggregates of feeling, perception, and consciousness. The aggregate of volitional formations is what self possesses.

What is seeing self as dwelling within volitional formations? That is to say, the manas believes the aggregate of form is self, the aggregate of form dwells within the aggregate of volitional formations, and self dwells within the aggregate of volitional formations, with the aggregate of volitional formations pervading the four limbs and the whole body. The manas believes the aggregates of feeling, perception, and consciousness are self; the aggregates of feeling, perception, and consciousness dwell within the aggregate of volitional formations, and self dwells within the aggregate of volitional formations, with self pervading the whole body—this is called "self dwelling within volitional formations."