4.6. Saṅkhata

One Pāḷi word sums up this entire world of conditioned experience—saṅkhata. It literally means 'made together', and refers to the fact that everything is constructed, fabricated, and by one step of further abstraction, conditioned.

When something is constructed, it is made of parts. When something is made of parts, it can fall apart.

When something is conditioned, it doesn't stand by itself. It exists as long as the conditions for its existence exist. When any one of the conditions collapses, the whole thing collapses. This describes not only everything material in the known universe, but also every aspect of our subjective experience.

Included in this is everything that we value, our bodies, our appearance, our health, our relationships, our happiness—these all depend on things over which we have little or no control. When one of the conditions collapses, the thing itself collapses too.

It's really no problem that everything is constructed and conditioned. The problem is that we are looking for stable gratification in these unstable things—in material possessions like gadgets, vehicles, property, in relationships, in family, in social organisations and political institutions, in life itself. Yet all of these things are saṅkhata. So there's nothing permanent or stable in life, there's nothing that can provide any stable ground to be relied on.

The Buddha frequently expressed this towards the time of his death, as his disciples bemoaned the fact that he would soon be gone.

"nanu etaṃ, ānanda, mayā paṭikacceva akkhātaṃ – ‘sabbeheva piyehi manāpehi nānābhāvo vinābhāvo aññathābhāvo. taṃ kutettha, ānanda, labbhā, yaṃ taṃ jātaṃ bhūtaṃ saṅkhataṃ palokadhammaṃ, taṃ vata mā palujjīti netaṃ ṭhānaṃ vijjati’.

Surely, this has been stated by me before, Ānanda: There is parting from, separation from and alteration of every single thing that is dear and pleasant. What can be done about it!? "Whatever has come into being, is conditioned, and liable to disintegrate—may that not disintegrate!" That's is not possible.

-- DN16 mahāparinibbānasuttaṃ, ānandayācanakathā

This fact of conditionality is one of the most fundamental insights of the Buddha. Ironically, if we accept this basic fact of existence—nothing conditioned can ever be relied upon—this fact itself becomes solid ground which turns out to be very reliable, and ever true.

Meditation on Saṅkhata

Transcript

Every single experience is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Every single component that makes up experience is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. If every single experience and single component that makes up experience is constructed, fabricated, based on conditions, how can the whole thing be stable? --- The eyes are *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Visible forms are *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Eye consciousness is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. The experience of seeing is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Everything which results from seeing is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. --- The ears are *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Sounds are *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Ear consciousness is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. The experience of hearing is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Everything which results from hearing is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. --- The nose is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Smells are *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Nose consciousness is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. The experience of smelling is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Everything which results from smelling is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. --- The tongue is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Flavours are *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Tongue consciousness is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. The experience of tasting is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Everything which results from tasting is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. --- The body is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Tangible sensations are *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Body consciousness is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. The experience of physical sensation is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Everything which results from feeling physical sensations is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. --- The mind is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Mental phenomena are *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Mind consciousness is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Mental experiences are *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Everything which results from mental experience is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. --- Come back to open awareness This experience right now is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. All components of this experience are *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Everything which results from this experience is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. How can you rely on things which are so unstable? How can you build a happy future on things which are so unreliable? Keep examining this constructed nature of experience, every aspect of experience, and everything which results from experience. Everything is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. --- Every single experience is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. Every single component that makes up experience is *saṅkhata*, constructed, fabricated, based on conditions. If every single part is constructed, fabricated, based on conditions, how can the whole thing be stable?

Q&A

Q: Do you have any questions or doubts at this point?