Saṅkhāra
Things that arise through conditions and fabrication. Because they depend on causes, they are impermanent and cannot be held onto.
Meaning
Saṅkhāra (Pāli: Saṅkhāra) comes from saṅ meaning “together” and khāra meaning “to make or to construct.” It refers to anything that is formed from multiple components, or any state that is conditioned by causes. Nothing arises entirely on its own.
The Law of Saṅkhāra
According to Idappaccayatā — the principle of conditionality
- Saṅkhāra arises because various causes and conditions come together.
- When those conditions exist, the resulting phenomenon appears.
- When those causes arise, the effect arises.
- When those conditions are absent, the phenomenon does not arise.
- When those conditions cease, the phenomenon also ceases.
All things are saṅkhata — conditioned formations.
Example
Eye-contact (cakkhu-samphassa) as an example of conditioned arising
- The eye (cakkhu)
- Visible objects (rūpa)
- Eye-consciousness (cakkhu-viññāṇa) ↓ Contact (phassa) ↓ Feeling (vedanā) — pleasant, painful, or neutral
This shows that nothing arises from a single cause; it always depends on several conditions coming together.
“Sabbe Dhammā Saṅkhātā”
The Buddha said: “Sabbe dhammā saṅkhātā” — “All dhammas are conditioned by causes and conditions.” (Khuddaka Nikāya, Dhammapada)
The Three Universal Characteristics of Saṅkhāra
Because everything depends on causes, all things have these qualities:
- Anicca — Impermanent; whatever depends on conditions must change as those conditions change.
- Dukkha — Unsatisfactory; when impermanent things break apart, they lead to sorrow, loss, and resistance.
- Anattā — Not-self; not truly “mine.” If these things were really ours, we could command them to remain. But in reality, we cannot.
Reflection
Understanding Saṅkhāra correctly allows us to analyze problems and solve them in line with cause and effect.
We identify the root conditions behind any experience or problem. Once we understand those conditions, we can remove the ones that lead to unwanted results.
Studying Saṅkhāra is therefore essential for developing wisdom and moving toward the end of suffering.
Summary
When we truly understand Saṅkhāra, we see how everything arises and ceases. We realize that:
- If we don’t want something to arise, we simply remove its causes.
- If we want something good to grow, we nurture the causes that lead to it.