The True Meaning of the Aggregates of Perception and Volitional Formations Being the Self or Different from the Self

杂阿含经卷五原文：「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: What does it mean to perceive the aggregate of perception (saṃjñā) as being the self? The aggregate of perception is the six perceptions: when the eye faculty contacts form, eye consciousness arises, and eye consciousness has perception; when the ear faculty contacts sound, ear consciousness arises, and ear consciousness has perception; when the nose faculty contacts scent, nose consciousness arises, and nose consciousness has perception; when the tongue faculty contacts flavor, 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 being itself, believing that it (the manas) is the perception—this is called "perception is the self" (the manas).

What does it mean to perceive the aggregate of perception as being other than the self? It means the manas believes the aggregate of form is the self, and thus the aggregate of perception is what it possesses; when the manas takes the aggregates of feeling, formations, and consciousness as the self, it will take the aggregate of perception as what it possesses. This is called "perception is other than the self."

What does it mean to perceive the self (the manas) as dwelling within perception? It means the manas believes the aggregate of form is the self, and the aggregate of perception is within the aggregate of form; the manas believes the aggregates of feeling, formations, and consciousness are the self, and the aggregate of perception is within the aggregates of feeling, formations, and consciousness. The aggregate of perception is what it possesses.

What does it mean to perceive the self as dwelling within perception? It means the manas believes the aggregate of form is the self, the aggregate of form dwells within the aggregate of perception, and thus the 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, formations, and consciousness are the self; these aggregates dwell within the aggregate of perception, and thus the self dwells within the aggregate of perception, with the self pervading the whole body. This is called "the self within perception."

What does it mean to perceive the aggregate of formations (saṃskāra) as being the self? The aggregate of formations is the six volitions: when the eye faculty contacts form, eye consciousness arises, and eye consciousness has volition; when the ear faculty contacts sound, ear consciousness arises, and ear consciousness has volition; when the nose faculty contacts scent, nose consciousness arises, and nose consciousness has volition; when the tongue faculty contacts flavor, 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 being itself, believing that it (the manas) is the volition—this is called "formations are the self" (the manas).

What does it mean to perceive the aggregate of formations as being other than the self? It means the manas believes the aggregate of form is the self, and thus the aggregate of formations is what it possesses; when the manas takes the aggregates of feeling, perception, and consciousness as the self, it will take the aggregate of formations as what it possesses. This is called "formations are other than the self."

What does it mean to perceive the self (the manas) as dwelling within formations? It means the manas believes the aggregate of form is the self, and the aggregate of formations is within the aggregate of form; the manas believes the aggregates of feeling, perception, and consciousness are the self, and the aggregate of formations is within the aggregates of feeling, perception, and consciousness. The aggregate of formations is what it possesses.

What does it mean to perceive the self as dwelling within formations? It means the manas believes the aggregate of form is the self, the aggregate of form dwells within the aggregate of formations, and thus the self dwells within the aggregate of formations, with the aggregate of formations pervading the four limbs and the whole body. The manas believes the aggregates of feeling, perception, and consciousness are the self; these aggregates dwell within the aggregate of formations, and thus the self dwells within the aggregate of formations, with the self pervading the whole body. This is called "the self within formations."