(pan~ca-skandha). 'five skandhas', 'five aggregates', 'five clusters.' Also translated into Chinese as 五陰 and 五眾. 'Skandha' 蘊 means 'accumulation' or 'gathering.' The collection of the five compositional elements of our existence. The viewpoint that all existence, including our own, lies in the relationship of five clusters. The assembly of mind and matter, or spirit and matter. The five skandhas are the division of matter and mind into five categories, which are form, feeling, perception, impulse and consciousness. 'Form' 色 (ru^pa) is matter in general, the body or materiality. 'Feeling' 受 (vedana^) is receptive or sensory function. 'Perception' 想 (samjn~a^) refers to images that surface in the mind. Symbolic function. 'Impulse' 行 (samska^ra) is will, intention, or the mental function that accounts for craving. The power of formation potential. It is also understood as all of the general mental functions not included in the skandhas of feeling or perception. 'Consciousness' 識 (vijn~a^na) is the cognitive, or discriminating function. Knowing through discrimination.
FROM:《英漢-漢英-英英佛學辭典》中華佛典寶庫 編