The Contemplation on the Five Aggregates of Clinging in the Upādānaparipavattana Sutta

Abstract

This academic article aims to study “The Contemplation on the Five Aggregates of Clinging in the Upādānaparipavattana Sutta.” The findings reveal that the practice of Vipassanā meditation involves the contemplation of the Five Aggregates of Clinging through four cycles. 1) Clear comprehension of the Five Aggregates. This refers to the direct insight into the true nature of the Five Aggregates as impermanent (anicca), suffering (dukkha), and non-self (anattā). To perceive these characteristics as they truly are is to clearly comprehend the Five Aggregates. 2) The arising of the Five Aggregates refers to the delighting in, relishing, and clinging to the Five Aggregates. When one delights in, relishes, and clings to the aggregates, such delight arises. This delight in the Five Aggregates constitutes upādāna (clinging). Because a monk’s clinging is the condition, becoming (bhava) comes to be; because becoming is the condition, birth (jāti) comes to be; and because birth is the condition, aging and death (jarā maraṇa), as well as sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair, arise. Thus, the arising of the Five Aggregates takes place. 3) The cessation of the Five Aggregates is the non-delighting in, non-relishing, and non-clinging to the Five Aggregates. When one neither delights in, nor relishes, nor clings to the aggregates, the delight in the Five Aggregates ceases. Because the monk’s delight ceases, clinging (upādāna) ceases; because clinging ceases, becoming (bhava) ceases; because becoming ceases, birth (jāti) ceases; and because birth ceases, aging and death (jarā maraṇa), along with sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair, also cease. 4) The path leading to the cessation of the Five Aggregates is the Noble Eightfold Path, consisting of Right View, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration. This path leads to the cessation of attachment to the Five Aggregates. The Five Aggregates of Clinging were delivered by the Perfectly Enlightened Buddha as a foundational principle for the practice of Vipassanā meditation. This Dhamma was taught for the purpose of higher knowledge, and should be studied, reflected upon, cultivated, and practiced diligently in order to realize the Path, its Fruition, and Nibbāna.