Page 35 - Because I know, I can let go

The arising of the clinging aggregates
(upādānakhandhas)

How do the clinging aggregates arise? The aggregates as they are in
Nature, how do they become the clinging aggregates? It’s because
ignorance, avijjā, lets clinging arise, there’s clinging to the aggregates
as ‘me,’ then they’re no longer natural. Originally they are natural,

and can naturally do everything that’s necessary for life to continue:
the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind, that is, the aggregates,
can operate all by themselves, but then ignorance arising with the
saññākhanda causes the ‘me,’ the ‘doer,’ to appear, because of an
instinctual feeling. Things which have life must have the feeling of
being ‘me,’ of ‘me’ who lives life, of ‘me’ who’ll die, then getting and
eating of food, fighting off enemies, running away from dangers,
the sexual act, or whatever, will maintain that feeling, keep it from
fading away. Take a good look: the ‘me,’ although it’s just an illusion,

is huge, the most important of matters, it’s what makes everything
happen. Because of this all life looks out for itself. The whole world,
even the whole universe, although a huge and incomprehensible
matter, all of it comes from selfishness. Selfishness is much greater
than mere big.

Be aware that the five aggregates arise when any of the six senses do

their duties, but that it doesn’t stop with their mere arising, because
ignorant clinging enters and turns the aggregates into ‘me,’ then
form becomes ‘me,’ feeling becomes ‘me,’ perceptions become ‘me,’
thinking becomes ‘me,’ and consciousness becomes ‘me.’ Then
comes the second level of ignorance and form, feeling, perceptions,
thinking, and consciousness become ‘mine.’ Hence there’s both
‘me’ and ‘mine.’ As with this body: when it does anything the body
is taken to be ‘me,’ what it does, the doing, is taken to be ‘mine.’

Atta is ‘me,’ attaniya is ‘mine.’ If anyone wants to remember the Pali
then remember these two words: atta, ‘me,’ attaniya, ‘mine,’ as when
we, in dependence on ignorance being present, take the body to be

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