Transcript 5. Vinnana – Consciousness

Anatta & The 5 Skandas
Anatta means that
there is no
permanent individual
or “me”. All of us are
changing all the time
and no part of us
stays the same, so
we are different
people from time to
time, even though we
feel like the same
person.
The idea that we are essentially the same throughout our lives
is central to the way that most people in the world see
themselves. So Buddhism must have an explanation for this
radical belief. The explanation is ‘The 5 Skhandhas’.
The 5 Skhandas
1. Rupa – The Physical Body
Although we seem to have the same body
throughout our lives, it’s obvious that’s it’s
changing. Think about what it’s like when you
meet someone you haven’t seen in a long
time. They can look like ‘different’ people.
We also know that our cells are constantly
growing and dying and that every 7 years we
have a whole new set of cells, so our
physical bodies are always changing.
The 5 Skhandas
2. Vedana – Sensations and Feelings
Think about your mood. That changes all the
time, from day to day and even hour to hour.
How did you feel when you woke up this
morning? Do you feel the same way now?
What we sense is constantly changing too.
The sounds, smells, tastes, sights and
feelings (of the body) are changing all the
time. What sounds can you hear right now?
How long does it last? All the sensations are
constantly changing.
The 5 Skhandas
3. Sankhara – Character Traits (Likes and Dislikes)
What type of music do you like? Have you always
liked it. Is there music you used to like, but
don’t anymore? This Skhanda may not change as
quickly as some of the others, but that doesn’t
mean it doesn’t change throughout our lives
regularly. There are many things that we all like
and dislike, but they don’t stay the same for
long.
The 5 Skhandas
4. Sanna - Cognitions (Thinking)
This refers to all types of thoughts, ideas, opinions,
compulsions, and decisions. It could be your opinions,
something you believe. It could be what you’re thinking about
just now. Will you keep thinking about it constantly, or will
you be thinking about something else soon.
Think about a purple
cow. Now see if you
notice when you start
thinking about
something else.
The 5 Skhandas
5. Vinnana – Consciousness
This is what it feels like to be you, a selfawareness. You know what it’s like to be you,
something which no-one else can really
experience.
But we lose this awareness every time we go to
sleep. Do we still exist when we’re sleeping, or
do we go in and out of existence?
The 5 Skhandas
The 5 Skhandas are supposed to be a comprehensive
(meaning it leaves nothing out) list of everything that
makes up a person. Since every part of all of us is
changing all the time, there is nothing permenant about
us. Therefore there is no soul.
In Hinduism,
reincarnation is an
important idea as
they believe that the
‘Atman’ or soul is
essential to every
individual and gets
passed on to future
lives.
Reincarnation or Rebirth?
As there is no ‘Atman’, there can be no life
after death. Therefore, this rules out the idea
of reincarnation.
Buddhists believe instead in rebirth. This means
that future lives of other people that are born
will be affected by the lives we have lived. We
can affect the lives of many people over many
years.
Atman leads to Attachment
Believing that there is an Atman (soul) is an
illusion that we find hard to detach ourselves
from.
Not only is it untrue, but it also leads to increased
Tanha (craving) and therefore Dukkha. It is only
when you lose the idea of your ‘self’, can you act in
a self-less way (the opposite of selfish).
Activity
Working in small groups (2-4) create a poster
that shows not only the 3 Marks of Existence
but also the idea of Atman & the Five
Skhandas.
We will keep them for revision later on and
display one in the class
Questions
1. Why would a Buddhist believe that individuals
lack a permanent soul or ‘Atman’? 6 Marks
2. What is the importance of the 5 Skandas to
the idea of rebirth in Buddhism? 4 Marks