In some passages of the Pali canon the Five Aggregates consisting of form, feeling, thought, inclination, and consciousness are suffering or duhkha. Tied to this is the fact that we crave these five psychophysical constituents. We even mistake them for our Self. In fact, our craving has caused us to interface with these aggregates as being our Self which keeps us endlessly in samsara.
By craving these aggregates, thus entering into the world of suffering, we consequently become the bearer (hâra) of the burden, the burden (bhâram) which according to the Buddha is the Five Grasping Aggregates (pañc-upâdâna-khandha).
As we might surmise, the bearer who takes up the burden of the aggregates is unable to tell the difference between the Self and the aggregates. The bearer considers each aggregate as, “This is mine”, “I am this”, “this is my self” instead of na me so attâ, “That [burden] is not my Self.”
Keeping the aforementioned in mind, this passage from the Samyutta-Nikaya in the Khandhavagga (iii. 26) sums up the central idea that the aggregates must be transcended or in this case, laid down.
A burden indeed are the Five Aggregates and the bearer of the burden is the person (puggala).
The taking up of the burden in the world (loke) is sorrow (dukkham),
The laying down of the burden is bliss (sukkham).
One who lays down the heavy burden,
And does not grasp at any other.
Having eradicated craving,
Being without longing (nicchato), one is fully released (pari-nibbuto).
We should keep in mind that laying down the burden of the Five Aggregates means we are rejecting something which is painful and unreal with reference to the real which transcends the burdensome aggregates. Indeed, there is something spiritually beyond the ambit of the aggregates. Of course, we can’t speculate about it. Mere words will not bring us there.
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