Understanding the Aggregates of Clinging in Buddhism : หน้า 76/263

attachment and can therefore lead to suffering. The reason that attachment to the Five Aggregates causes suffering is that they belong to the mundane world [lokiya] and are therefore referred to as ‘Aggregates of Clinging’ [upādānakkhandha]. The aggregates of anyone who has attained any of the four levels of Buddhist sainthood are worldly [lokiya] only for their physical aggregates (i.e. his or her body). The other four aggregates — feelings, perception, mental formations and consciousness are all of transcendental [lokuttara] purity — and are no longer subject to clinging (which is why they are referred to as Pure Aggregates [dhammakhandha]). The Buddha pointed to the ‘Aggregates of Clinging’ as the origin of all other sorts of suffering (from the suffering of birth all the way to disappointment). Thus anyone wishing to enlighten themselves as to the Noble Truth of Suffering needs to pay particular attention to the Aggregates of Clinging as explained by the commentarians of the Atthakathāvi bhānga and The Path of Purity: Metaphors for the importance of the Aggregates of Clinging: 1. The Soil of the Earth: Just as the soil is prerequisite for the growth of all forms of plant life the Aggregates of Clinging are prerequisite to the arising of all other forms of suffering. 2. A Forest Fire: Just like a forest fire eventually consumes all forms of life in the forest, ironically those other forms of suffering are eventually the cause of the break up of those Aggregates of Clinging to which they owe their birth! 3. An Archer’s Target: Just as the concentric coloured circles of a target are the chosen object for archers to test their skills, the Aggregates of Clinging are the chosen target of all forms of suffering.