THE ESSENTIALS OF BUDDHISM A. THE FIVE AGGREGATES (SKANDHAS) OF BEING. 1. FORM (Rupa [Water, Fire, Wind, Earth]) 2. SENSATION (Vedana) 2. PERCEPTION (Samjna) 4. PREDISPOSITIONS (Samskaras) 5. CONSCIOUSNESS (Vijnana) (1: Bodily Processes [Rupa], 2-5: Mental Processes [Nama]) B. CHARACTERISTICS OF BEING 1. SUFFERING (Dukkha) 2. IMPERMANENCE (Anitya) 3. SELFLESSNESS/SOULLESSNESS (Anatman) 3. EMPTINESS (Shunyata) 4. DEPENDENT ORIGINATION (Pratityasamutpada) C. DIALECTIC OF LIFE AND THE WAY TO NIRVANA 1. IGNORANCE (Avidya) 2. CRAVING/DESIRE (Trishna) 3. ACTION/LAW OF CAUSE-EFFECT (Karma) 4. CYCLE OF REBIRTH (Samsara) 5. SUFFERING (Dukkha) If one can break this vicious cycle of life, then, NIRVANA is surely one’s to enjoy! Nirvana is viewed as the state of being characterized by enlightenment, freedom, bliss, and compassion. Nirvana literally means the state of extinction or being blown out like candlelight. "Decay is inherent in all composite things." "Work out your own realization with diligence." (Last words of the Buddha)