Study Report 20

Continue with [27/211]
Pali Text:
Na saṅkhārā na saṅkhārakkhandhoti? āmantā.
Na saṅkhārakkhandho na saṅkhārāti?
Saṅkhārakkhandhaṃ ṭhapetvā avasesā na saṅkhārakkhandho, saṅkhārā. Saṅkhāre ca saṅkhārakkhandhañca ṭhapetvā avasesā na ceva saṅkhārā na ca saṅkhārakkhandho.

Na viññāṇaṃ na viññāṇakkhandhoti? āmantā.
Na viññāṇakkhandho na viññāṇanti? āmantā.

Translation:
(iv) Q. Is it which is not called ‘formations’ not called ‘aggregate of mental formation’?
A. Yes.
Q. Is it which is not called ‘aggregate of mental formation’ not called ‘formations’?
A. With the exception of aggregate of mental formation, the remainings are not called ‘aggregate of mental formation’, but called ‘formations’. With the exception of formations and mental formation aggregate, the remainings are neither called ‘formation’ nor ‘aggregate of mental formation’.

(v) Q. Is it which is not called ‘consciousness’ not called ‘aggregate of consciousness’?
A. Yes.
Q. Is it which is not called ‘aggregate of consciousness’ not called ‘consciousness’?
A. Yes.

Guide:
As we know, aggregate of mental formations are 50 mental factors in ultimate sense, so there are conditioned states.

If they are not formations, then they are definitely not aggregate of mental formation. Because formations are conditioned state and aggregate of mental formation is also conditioned state. If ‘A’ is not, then ‘B’ is also not.

What are not formations? Nibbāna is not formations, it is unconditioned.

“Is it which is not called ‘aggregate of mental formation’ not called ‘formations’?”
Aggregate of mental formation is 50 mental factors; formations are 89 consciousness, 52 mental factors, and 28 matters in ultimate sense.
So, it is still possible to be formations, if it is not aggregate of mental formation.

In the answer, it is said: “With the exception of aggregate of mental formation, the remainings are not called ‘aggregate of mental formation’, but called ‘formations’.”
The remainings, exception of aggregate of mental formation, which are formations, refer to the 89 consciousness, 2 mental factors, and 28 matters.

Then: “With the exception of formations and aggregate of mental formation, the remainings are neither called ‘formations’ nor ‘aggregate of mental formation’.”
The remainings are neither called ‘formations’ nor ‘aggregate of mental formation’ refer to Nibbāna.

Consciousness or aggregate of consciousness is 89 consciousness in ultimate sense.