One of the basic ideas of Buddhism is that of the five aggregates. These are the building blocks of the Self. A person is merely a composition of their thoughts, experiences, and they way the act on them .
To consider the role of the five aggregates, also known as the five Skandhas, we must also understand the principle of the self. The self can be described as collection of mental and physical personal experiences not as a separated and isolated individual. These experiences are wide and include different aspects of life which come together to make up our personalities such as our habits and attitudes as well as our own ideas and our emotions. This self analysis is the path one follows to end suffering.
The first of the aggregates is that of matter. The sense organs that make up a life, internal and external. The second of the five aggregates is that of sensation. Taking in what is felt be the sense organs and interpreting their feelings in, to, for, about, and around the body. The second aggregate depends on the first. A person's sense organs cause one to feel sensation, which leads to desire and in turn leads to suffering. .
The third aggregate is that of perception. This when applied to everyday life can be interpreted as refraining from misusing the senses. This feeds off the first and second aggregate. One feels, interprets and understands their world. We are slowly building the self. .
The fourth aggregate is that of mental formation or disposition. This can be seen as a mental process. Here we begin to see the human will. This is where our choices to do good or evil begin. Our disposition towards freedom from suffering. .
The last is that of consciousness. This is an awareness. We are merely a composition of the five aggregates. A person becomes aware of life, feels it's formation and the things it encompass, the mind interpret, the person decides how to act, and life keeps revolving.
