The Word of the Buddha The Five Groups of Existence

4.2. Observing the Mental Qualities with regard to the Aggregates

¶ 79Again, a bhikkhu dwells observing the mental qualities in and of themselves with regard to the five aggregates subject to clinging. And how does a bhikkhu dwell observing the mental qualities in and of themselves with regard to the five aggregates subject to clinging? Here, a bhikkhu understands: ‘Such is form, such is the arising of form, such is the passing away of form; such is felt experience, such is the arising of felt experience, such is the passing away of felt experience; such is perception, such is the arising of perception, such is the passing away of perception; such are intentional constructs, such is the arising of intentional constructs, such is the passing away of intentional constructs; such is consciousness, such is the arising of consciousness, such is the passing away of consciousness’;

¶ 80Thus, he dwells observing the mental qualities in and of themselves internally, or he dwells observing the mental qualities in and of themselves externally, or he dwells observing the mental qualities in and of themselves both internally and externally. He dwells observing the arising nature in the mental qualities, or he dwells observing the vanishing nature in the mental qualities, or he dwells observing both the arising and vanishing nature in the mental qualities. Or else, mindfulness that ‘there are mental qualities’ is simply established in him to the extent necessary for knowledge and remembrance. He dwells independently and does not cling to anything in the world.

¶ 81In this way too, a bhikkhu dwells observing the mental qualities in and of themselves with regard to the five aggregates that are subject to clinging.