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 Skhandas4. 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 self-awareness. 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 SkhandasThe 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

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).

Believing that there is an Atman (soul) is an illusion that we find hard to detach ourselves from.

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