The Five Aggregates With Clinging describes a way that Buddhism characterizes the personality, with these components: Form (physical sensations), Feelings, Perceptions, Mind Fabrication Elements and Consciousness.  Peter read a quote from the Satipatthana Sutta, the Discourse on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, that describes the methods for contemplating the transient and non-self characteristics of the Five Aggregates as a way to overcome dukkha, the distress and confusion that is the result of craving and clinging.  Craving is the result of undisciplined feeling and clinging is the result of misconceiving the fabrications of the mind as an enduring and autonomous self.  In addition to the classic Five Aggregates, Peter referred to what are called binding moments of consciousness, the process that blends different mental functions such as seeing and hearing, to create a coherent sense of a self that is seeing and hearing.  One of the goals of vipassana/insight practice is the ability to clearly observe the process of blending as it is happening, allowing direct awareness of anicca, the transient nature of subjective experience, which is a key element in the process of Awakening.

Here are the notes prepared for this talk:  UNDERSTANDING THE FIVE AGGREGATES