Chapter Twenty-Three Summary and Analysis

The Five Aggregates—form, feelings, perceptions, mental formations and consciousness, make up a human being. These contain everything inside and outside of us. Form, or rupa, includes our body and five sense organs. Hanh suggests meditating mindfully on each body part and smiling to that part, embracing each element with mindful tenderness and compassion. We need to recognize the impermanance and interbeing of the body.

The second aggregate is vedana, or feelings, which Hanh likens to drops that form a river, each impermanent and without substance. We need to watch them go by and observe the nutriments that have brought them about, replacing them with healthier nutriments.

The third aggregate is perception, which are often erroneous and include noticing, naming and conceptualizing. Incorrect perceptions cause unpleasant feelings and are conditioned by the afflictions in us of ignorance, craving...