Vis. Ch XIV, 218.
Intro: in this section the second reason for there being five
khandhas is explained. All the different dhammas included in them can
be the basis of wrong view.
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Text Vis.: (b) And this is the extreme limit as the basis for the
assumption of self and what pertains to self, that is to say, the
five beginning with materiality. For this is said: 'Bhikkhus, when
matter exists, it is through clinging to matter, through insisting
upon (interpreting) matter, that such a view as this arises: "This is
mine, this is I, this is my self".
When feeling exists ... When perception (sa~n~naa) exists...When
formations exist ... When consciousness exists, it is through
clinging to consciousness, through insisting upon (interpreting)
consciousness, that such a view as this arises: "This is mine, this
is I, this is my self" (S.iii,181-82). So they are stated as five
because this is the widest limit as a basis for the assumption of the
self and what pertains to self.
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N: The views of �this is mine, this is I, this is my self" represent
the three proliferations (papa�cas) : clinging without wrong view,
conceit, and clinging with wrong view. These proliferations arise
with regard to each of the five khandhas.
The five khandhas are the extreme limit as the basis for the
assumption of self and what pertains to self, as we have seen. The
five khandhas have been classified as past, future or present, as
internal or external, as gross or subtle, as inferior or superior,
and as far or near. There are numerous conditions for each of the
ruupas and naamas classified as khandha to be of great variety. We
cling and we have wrong view with regard to ruupas, including the
sense-objects and the senses; we cling to the body from head to toe
and we take it for self. We take cittas, feelings and the other
cetasikas for self. When seeing arises we take it for �my seeing�.
When akusala cetasika such as attachment or sobhana cetasika such as
generosity arises, we take these cetasikas for self. There are
numerous objects of clinging and of wrong view, but all of them have
been classified as five khandhas.
By the development of insight the dhammas that are classified as the
five khandhas will be seen as impermanent, dukkha and anattaa.
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Nina.
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