five aggregates
The five aggregates illustrate how loosely coupled groupings of processes are casually interpreted by the average person to be "the self", although they are not cohesive on careful inspection.
- form
- sensation
- perception
- mental formations
- consciousness
In particular, one might note that the first aggregate is only inferred based on the next two. Mental formations may be translated variously as "volition", "conditioning", or "karmic activity", and conotes action or operation on the other aggregates, and all of them arising from consciousness.
See also the eight consciousnesses