1. Analysis of the Aggregates (VB1)

3. Interrogation

The five aggregates are: The aggregate of material quality, aggregate of feeling, aggregate of perception, aggregate of mental concomitants, aggregate of consciousness.

Of the five aggregates how many are good; how many bad; how many neither-good-nor-bad.* How many with cause of bewailing; how many without cause of bewailing?

* Remaining appropriate triplets and couplets.

1. The Triplets

The aggregate of material quality is neither-good-nor-bad. Four aggregates sometimes are good; sometimes are bad; sometimes are neither-good-nor-bad. Two aggregates should not be said to be either, associated with pleasant feeling; associated with painful feeling or associated with neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling. Three aggregates sometimes are associated with pleasant feeling; sometimes are associated with painful feeling; sometimes are associated with neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling. The aggregate of material quality is neither resultant nor productive of resultant. Four aggregates sometimes are resultants; sometimes are productive of resultants; sometimes are neither resultants nor productive of resultants. The aggregate of material quality sometimes is grasped (by craving and false view), is the object of the attachments; sometimes is not grasped, is the object of the attachments. Four aggregates sometimes are grasped, are objects of the attachments; sometimes are not grasped, are objects of the attachments; sometimes are not grasped, are not objects of the attachments.

The aggregate of material quality is not corrupt, is the object of the corruptions. Four aggregates sometimes are corrupt, are objects of the corruptions; sometimes are not corrupt, are objects of the corruptions; sometimes are not corrupt, are not objects of the corruptions. The aggregate of material quality is without initial application, without sustained application. Three aggregates sometimes are accompanied by initial application, accompanied by sustained application; sometimes are without initial application, | sustained application only; sometimes are without initial application, without sustained application. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is accompanied by initial application, accompanied by sustained application; sometimes is without initial application, sustained application only; sometimes is without initial application, without sustained application; sometimes should not be said to be either, accompanied by initial application, accompanied by sustained application; without initial application, sustained application only or without initial application, without sustained application. The aggregate of material quality should not be said to be either, accompanied by zest; accompanied by pleasure or accompanied by indifference. The aggregate of feeling sometimes is accompanied by zest; is not accompanied by pleasure; is not accompanied by indifference; sometimes should not be said to be, accompanied by zest. Three aggregates sometimes are accompanied by zest; sometimes are accompanied by pleasure; sometimes are accompanied by indifference; sometimes should not be said to be either, accompanied by zest; accompanied by pleasure or accompanied by indifference.

The aggregate of material quality is not to be abandoned either by the first path or by the subsequent paths. Four aggregates sometimes are to be abandoned by the first path; sometimes are to be abandoned by the subsequent paths; sometimes are not to be abandoned either by the first path or by the subsequent paths. The aggregate of material quality has no root to be abandoned either by the first path or by the subsequent paths. Four aggregates sometimes have roots to be abandoned by the first path; sometimes have roots to be abandoned by the subsequent paths; sometimes have no roots to be abandoned either by the first path or by the subsequent paths. The aggregate of material quality is neither cumulative nor dispersive (of continuing rebirth and death). Four aggregates sometimes are cumulative; sometimes are dispersive; sometimes are neither cumulative nor dispersive. The aggregate of material quality is neither of the seven supramundane stages nor of the final supramundane stage. Four aggregates sometimes are of the seven supramundane stages; sometimes are of the final supramundane stage; sometimes are neither of the seven supramundane stages nor of the final supramundane stage. The aggregate of material quality is low. Four aggregates sometimes are low; sometimes are sublime; sometimes | are immeasurable. The aggregate of material quality has no object. Four aggregates sometimes have low objects; sometimes have sublime objects; sometimes have immeasurable objects; sometimes should not be said to have either, low objects; sublime objects or immeasurable objects. The aggregate of material quality is intermediate. Four aggregates sometimes are inferior; sometimes are intermediate; sometimes are superior. The aggregate of material quality is of no fixed (resultant time). Four aggregates sometimes are false (states with) fixed (resultant time); sometimes are right (states with) fixed (resultant time); sometimes are of no fixed (resultant time).

The aggregate of material quality has no object. Four aggregates sometimes have path as their object; sometimes have path as their cause; sometimes have path as their dominating factor; sometimes should not be said to have either, path as their object; path as their cause or path as their dominating factor. (The five aggregates) Sometimes are risen; sometimes are not risen; sometimes are bound to arise. Sometimes are past; sometimes are future; sometimes are present. The aggregate of material quality has no object. Four aggregates sometimes have past objects; sometimes have future objects; sometimes have present objects; sometimes should not be said to have either, past objects; future objects or present objects. (The five aggregates) Sometimes are internal; sometimes are external; sometimes are both internal and external. The aggregate of material quality has no object. Four aggregates sometimes have internal objects; sometimes have external objects; sometimes have both internal and external objects; sometimes should not be said to have either, internal objects; external objects or both internal and external objects. Four aggregates are not visible, not impingent. The aggregate of material quality sometimes is visible, is impingent; sometimes is not visible, is impingent; sometimes is not visible, is not impingent.

2. The Couplets

Four aggregates are not roots. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is root; sometimes is not root. The aggregate of material quality is not accompanied by root. Four aggregates sometimes are accompanied by root; sometimes are not accompanied by root. The aggregate of material quality is not | associated with root. Four aggregates sometimes are associated with roots; sometimes are not associated with roots. The aggregate of material quality should not be said to be, root also accompanied by root or accompanied by root but is not root. Three aggregates should not be said to be, roots also accompanied by roots; (they) sometimes are accompanied by roots but are not roots; sometimes should not be said to be, accompanied by roots but are not roots. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is root also accompanied by root; sometimes is accompanied by root but is not root; sometimes should not be said to be, root also accompanied by root or accompanied by root but is not root. The aggregate of material quality should not be said to be, root also associated with root or associated with root but is not root. Three aggregates should not be said to be, roots also associated with roots; (they) sometimes are associated with roots but are not roots; sometimes should not be said to be, associated with roots but are not roots. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is root also associated with root; sometimes is associated with root but is not root; sometimes should not be said to be, root also associated with root or associated with root but is not root. The aggregate of material quality is not root, is not accompanied by root. Three aggregates sometimes are not roots, are accompanied by roots; sometimes are not roots, are not accompanied by roots. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is not root, is accompanied by root; sometimes is not root, is not accompanied by root; sometimes should not be said to be, not root, is accompanied by root or not root, is not accompanied by root. (1) (The five aggregates) Are with cause. Are conditioned.

Four aggregates are not visible. The aggregate of material quality sometimes is visible; sometimes is not visible. Four aggregates are not impingent. The aggregate of material quality sometimes is impingent; sometimes is not impingent. The aggregate of material quality is material. Four aggregates are not material. The aggregate of material quality is mundane. Four aggregates sometimes are mundane; sometimes are supramundane. (The five aggregates) Are cognizable by one way; are not cognizable by another way. (2)

Four aggregates are not defilements. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is defilement; sometimes is not defilement. The aggregate of material quality is the object of the | defilements. Four aggregates sometimes are objects of the defilements; sometimes are not objects of the defilements. The aggregate of material quality is not associated with the defilements. Four aggregates sometimes are associated with the defilements; sometimes are not associated with the defilements. The aggregate of material quality should not be said to be, defilement also the object of the defilements; (it) is the object of the defilements but is not defilement. Three aggregates should not be said to be, defilements also objects of the defilements; (they) sometimes are objects of the defilements but are not defilements; sometimes should not be said to be, objects of the defilements but are not defilements. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is defilement also the object of the defilements; sometimes is the object of the defilements but is not defilement; sometimes should not be said to be, defilement also the object of the defilements or the object of the defilements but is not defilement. The aggregate of material quality should not be said to be, defilement also associated with the defilements or associated with the defilements but is not defilement. Three aggregates should not be said to be, defilement also associated with the defilements; (they) sometimes are associated with the defilements but are not defilements; sometimes should not be said to be, associated with the defilements but are not defilements. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is defilement also associated with the defilements; sometimes is associated with the defilements but is not defilement; sometimes should not be said to be, defilement also associated with the defilements or associated with the defilements but is not defilement. The aggregate of material quality is not associated with the defilements, is the object of the defilements. Four aggregates sometimes are not associated with the defilements, are objects of the defilements; sometimes are not associated with the defilements, are not objects of the defilements; sometimes should not be said to be, not associated with the defilements, are objects of the defilements or not associated with the defilements, are not objects of the defilements. (3)

Four aggregates are not fetters. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is fetter; sometimes is not fetter. The aggregate of material quality is the object of the fetters. Four aggregates sometimes are objects of the fetters; sometimes are not objects of the fetters. The aggregate of material quality is not | associated with the fetters. Four aggregates sometimes are associated with the fetters; sometimes are not associated with the fetters. The aggregate of material quality should not be said to be, fetter also the object of the fetters; (it) is the object of the fetters but is not fetter. Three aggregates should not be said to be, fetters also objects of the fetters; (they) sometimes are objects of the fetters but are not fetters; sometimes should not be said to be, objects of the fetters but are not fetters. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is fetter also the object of the fetters; sometimes is the object of the fetters but is not fetter; sometimes should not be said to be, fetter also the object of the fetters or the object of the fetters but is not fetter. The aggregate of material quality should not be said to be, fetter also associated with the fetters or associated with the fetters but is not fetter. Three aggregates should not be said to be, fetters also associated with the fetters; (they) sometimes are associated with the fetters but are not fetters; sometimes should not be said to be, associated with the fetters but are not fetters. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is fetter also associated with the fetters; sometimes is associated with the fetters but is not fetter; sometimes should not be said to be, fetter also associated with the fetters or associated with the fetters but is not fetter. The aggregate of material quality is not associated with the fetters, is the object of the fetters. Four aggregates sometimes are not associated with the fetters, are objects of the fetters; sometimes are not associated with the fetters, are not objects of the fetters; sometimes should not be said to be, not associated with the fetters, are objects of the fetters or not associated with the fetters, are not objects of the fetters. (4)

Four aggregates are not ties. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is tie; sometimes is not tie. The aggregate of material quality is the object of the ties. Four aggregates sometimes are objects of the ties; sometimes are not objects of the ties. The aggregate of material quality is not associated with the ties. Four aggregates sometimes are associated with the ties; sometimes are not associated with the ties. The aggregate of material quality should not be said to be, tie also the object of the ties; (it) is the object of the ties but is not tie. Three aggregates should not be said to be, ties also objects of the ties; (they) sometimes are objects of the ties but are not ties; sometimes should not be said | to be, objects of the ties but are not ties. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is tie also the object of the ties; sometimes is the object of the ties but is not tie; sometimes should not be said to be, tie also the object of the ties or the object of the ties but is not tie. The aggregate of material quality should not be said to be, tie also associated with the ties or associated with the ties but is not tie. Three aggregates should not be said to be, ties also associated with the ties; (they) sometimes are associated with the ties but are not ties; sometimes should not be said to be, associated with the ties but are not ties. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is tie also associated with the ties; sometimes is associated with the ties but is not tie; sometimes should not be said to be, tie also associated with the ties or associated with the ties but is not tie. The aggregate of material quality is not associated with the ties, is the object of the ties. Four aggregates sometimes are not associated with the ties, are objects of the ties; sometimes are not associated with the ties, are not objects of the ties; sometimes should not be said to be, not associated with the ties, are objects of the ties or not associated with the ties, are not objects of the ties. (5)

Four aggregates are not floods.* Are not bonds.* Are not hindrances. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is hindrance; sometimes is not hindrance.

* Complete as for hindrances.

The aggregate of material quality is the object of the hindrances. Four aggregates sometimes are objects of the hindrances; sometimes are not objects of the hindrances. The aggregate of material quality is not associated with the hindrances. Four aggregates sometimes are associated with the hindrances; sometimes are not associated with the hindrances. The aggregate of material quality should not be said to be, hindrance also the object of the hindrances; (it) is the object of the hindrances but is not hindrance. Three aggregates should not be said to be, hindrances also objects of the hindrances; (they) sometimes are objects of the hindrances but are not hindrances; sometimes should not be said to be, objects of the hindrances but are not hindrances. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is hindrance also the object of the hindrances; sometimes is the object of the hindrances but is not hindrance; sometimes should not be said to be, hindrance also the object of the hindrances or the object of the hindrances but is not hindrance. The aggregate of material quality should not | be said to be, hindrance also associated with the hindrances or associated with the hindrances but is not hindrance. Three aggregates should not be said to be, hindrances also associated with the hindrances; (they) sometimes are associated with the hindrances but are not hindrances; sometimes should not be said to be, associated with the hindrances but are not hindrances. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is hindrance also associated with the hindrances; sometimes is associated with the hindrances but is not hindrance; sometimes should not be said to be, hindrance also associated with the hindrances or associated with the hindrances but is not hindrance. The aggregate of material quality is not associated with the hindrances, is the object of the hindrances. Four aggregates sometimes are not associated with the hindrances, are objects of the hindrances; sometimes are not associated with the hindrances, are not objects of the hindrances; sometimes should not be said to be, not associated with the hindrances, are objects of the hindrances or not associated with the hindrances, are not objects of the hindrances. (8)

Four aggregates are not perversions. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is perversion; sometimes is not perversion. The aggregate of material quality is the object of the perversions. Four aggregates sometimes are objects of the perversions; sometimes are not objects of the perversions. The aggregate of material quality is not associated with the perversions. Three aggregates sometimes are associated with the perversions; sometimes are not associated with the perversions. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is associated with the perversions; sometimes is not associated with the perversions; sometimes should not be said to be, associated with the perversions or not associated with the perversions. The aggregate of material quality should not be said to be, perversion also the object of the perversions; (it) is the object of the perversions but is not perversion. Three aggregates should not be said to be, perversions also objects of the perversions; (they) sometimes are objects of the perversions but are not perversions; sometimes should not be said to be, objects of the perversions but are not perversions. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is perversion also the object of the perversions; sometimes is the object of the perversions but is not perversion; sometimes should not be said to | be, perversion also the object of the perversions or the object of the perversions but is not perversion. The aggregate of material quality is not associated with the perversions, is the object of the perversions. Four aggregates sometimes are not associated with the perversions, are objects of the perversions; sometimes are not associated with the perversions, are not objects of the perversions; sometimes should not be said to be, not associated with the perversions, are objects of the perversions or not associated with the perversions, are not objects of the perversions. (9)

The aggregate of material quality has no object. Four aggregates have objects. The aggregate of consciousness is consciousness. Four aggregates are not consciousness. Three aggregates are mental concomitants. Two aggregates are not mental concomitants. Three aggregates are associated with consciousness. The aggregate of material quality is not associated with consciousness. The aggregate of consciousness should not be said to be, associated with consciousness or not associated with consciousness. Three aggregates are conjoined with consciousness. The aggregate of material quality is not conjoined with consciousness. The aggregate of consciousness should not be said to be, conjoined with consciousness or not conjoined with consciousness. Three aggregates are generated by consciousness. The aggregate of consciousness is not generated by consciousness. The aggregate of material quality sometimes is generated by consciousness; sometimes is not generated by consciousness. Three aggregates are co-existent with consciousness. The aggregate of consciousness is not co-existent with consciousness. The aggregate of material quality sometimes is co-existent with consciousness; sometimes is not co-existent with consciousness. Three aggregates accompany consciousness. The aggregate of consciousness does not accompany consciousness. The aggregate of material quality sometimes accompanies consciousness; sometimes does not accompany consciousness. Three aggregates are conjoined with, generated by consciousness. Two aggregates are not conjoined with, not generated by consciousness. Three aggregates are conjoined with, generated by, co-existent with consciousness. Two aggregates are not conjoined with, not generated by, not co-existent with consciousness. Three aggregates are conjoined with, generated by, accompany consciousness. Two aggregates are not conjoined with, not generated by, do not accompany consciousness. (10)

The aggregate of consciousness is internal. Three aggregates are external. The aggregate of material quality sometimes is internal; sometimes is external. Four aggregates are not derived. The aggregate of material quality sometimes is derived; sometimes is not derived. (The five aggregates) sometimes are grasped (by craving and false view); sometimes are not grasped. Four aggregates are not attachments. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is attachment; sometimes is not attachment. The aggregate of material quality is the object of the attachments. Four aggregates sometimes are objects of the attachments; sometimes are not objects of the attachments. The aggregate of material quality is not associated with the attachments. Four aggregates sometimes are associated with the attachments; sometimes are not associated with the attachments. The aggregate of material quality should not be said to be, attachment also the object of the attachments; (it) is the object of the attachments but is not attachment. Three aggregates should not be said to be, attachments also objects of the attachments; (they) sometimes are objects of the attachments but are not attachments; sometimes should not be said to be, objects of the attachments but are not attachments. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is attachment also the object of the attachments; sometimes is the object of the attachments but is not attachment; sometimes should not be said to be, attachment also the object of the attachments or the object of the attachments but is not attachment. The aggregate of material quality should not be said to be, attachment also associated with the attachments or associated with the attachments but is not attachment. Three aggregates should not be said to be, attachments also associated with the attachments; (they) sometimes are associated with the attachments but are not attachments; sometimes should not be said to be, associated with the attachments but are not attachments. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is attachment also associated with the attachments; sometimes is associated with the attachments but is not attachment; sometimes should not be said to be, attachment also associated with the attachments or associated with the attachments but is not attachment. The aggregate of material quality is not associated with the attachments, is the object of the attachments. Four aggregates sometimes are not associated with the attachments, are objects of the attachments; sometimes are not associated with the attachments, are not objects of the attachments; sometimes | should not be said to be, not associated with the attachments, are objects of the attachments or not associated with the attachments, are not objects of the attachments. (11)

Four aggregates are not corruptions. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is corruption; sometimes is not corruption. The aggregate of material quality is the object of the corruptions. Four aggregates sometimes are objects of the corruptions; sometimes are not objects of the corruptions. The aggregate of material quality is not corrupt. Four aggregates sometimes are corrupt; sometimes are not corrupt. The aggregate of material quality is not associated with the corruptions. Four aggregates sometimes are associated with the corruptions; sometimes are not associated with the corruptions. The aggregate of material quality should not be said to be, corruption also the object of the corruptions; (it) is the object of the corruptions but is not corruption. Three aggregates should not be said to be, corruptions also objects of the corruptions; (they) sometimes are objects of the corruptions but are not corruptions; sometimes should not be said to be, objects of the corruptions but are not corruptions. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is corruption also the object of the corruptions; sometimes is the object of the corruptions but is not corruption; sometimes should not be said to be, corruption also the object of the corruptions or the object of the corruptions but is not corruption. The aggregate of material quality should not be said to be, corruption also corrupt or corrupt but is not corruption. Three aggregates should not be said to be, corruptions also corrupt; (they) sometimes are corrupt but are not corruptions; sometimes should not be said to be, corrupt but are not corruptions. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is corruption also corrupt; sometimes is corrupt but is not corruption; sometimes should not be said to be, corruption also corrupt or corrupt but is not corruption.

The aggregate of material quality should not be said to be, corruption also associated with the corruptions or associated with the corruptions but is not corruption. Three aggregates should not be said to be, corruptions also associated with the corruptions; (they) sometimes are associated with the corruptions but are not corruptions; sometimes should not be said to be, associated with the corruptions but are not corruptions. The aggregate of mental concomitants sometimes is corruption also associated with the corruptions; sometimes is associated with the corruptions but is not | corruption; sometimes should not be said to be, corruption also associated with the corruptions or associated with the corruptions but is not corruption. The aggregate of material quality is not associated with the corruptions, is the object of the corruptions. Four aggregates sometimes are not associated with the corruptions, are objects of the corruptions; sometimes are not associated with the corruptions, are not objects of the corruptions; sometimes should not be said to be, not associated with the corruptions, are objects of the corruptions or not associated with the corruptions, are not objects of the corruptions. (12)

The aggregate of material quality is not to be abandoned by the first path. Four aggregates sometimes are to be abandoned by the first path; sometimes are not to be abandoned by the first path. The aggregate of material quality is not to be abandoned by the subsequent paths. Four aggregates sometimes are to be abandoned by the subsequent paths; sometimes are not to be abandoned by the subsequent paths. The aggregate of material quality has no root to be abandoned by the first path. Four aggregates sometimes have roots to be abandoned by the first path; sometimes have no roots to be abandoned by the first path. The aggregate of material quality has no root to be abandoned by the subsequent paths. Four aggregates sometimes have roots to be abandoned by the subsequent paths; sometimes have no roots to be abandoned by the subsequent paths. The aggregate of material quality is without initial application. Four aggregates sometimes are accompanied by initial application; sometimes are without initial application. The aggregate of material quality is without sustained application. Four aggregates sometimes are accompanied by sustained application; sometimes are without sustained application. The aggregate of material quality is without zest. Four aggregates sometimes are with zest; sometimes are without zest. The aggregate of material quality is not accompanied by zest. Four aggregates sometimes are accompanied by zest; sometimes are not accompanied by zest. Two aggregates are not accompanied by pleasure. Three aggregates sometimes are accompanied by pleasure; sometimes are not accompanied by pleasure. Two aggregates are not accompanied by indifference. Three aggregates sometimes are accompanied by indifference; sometimes are not accompanied by indifference.

The aggregate of material quality is characteristic of the plane of desire. Four aggregates sometimes are characteristic of the plane of | desire; sometimes are not characteristic of the plane of desire. The aggregate of material quality is not characteristic of the plane of form. Four aggregates sometimes are characteristic of the plane of form; sometimes are not characteristic of the plane of form. The aggregate of material quality is not characteristic of the formless plane. Four aggregates sometimes are characteristic of the formless plane; sometimes are not characteristic of the formless plane. The aggregate of material quality is included (i.e. is mundane). Four aggregates sometimes are included (i.e. are mundane); sometimes are not included (i.e. are supramundane). The aggregate of material quality does not tend to release. Four aggregates sometimes tend to release; sometimes do not tend to release. The aggregate of material quality is of no fixed (resultant time). Four aggregates sometimes are of fixed (resultant time); sometimes are of no fixed (resultant time). The aggregate of material quality is surpassable. Four aggregates sometimes are surpassable; sometimes are not surpassable. The aggregate of material quality is without cause of bewailing. Four aggregates sometimes are with cause of bewailing; sometimes are without cause of bewailing. (13)

(Here Ends the Section) Interrogation

Analysis of the Aggregates is Ended

The Book of Analysis, an English translation of the Pali Abhidhamma Vibhaṅga. Translated by Paṭhamkyaw Ashin Thiṭṭila (Seiṭṭhila). Published by Pali Text Society, 1969.

This SuttaCentral edition was prepared by Manfred Wierich and Ven. Vimala and proofread by Ariya Baumann. Some changes were introduced:

Internal and external links were added, so that readers can easily click the numerous references.

Some abbreviations were expanded.

Obvious oversights and errors were corrected, all of them minor.

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