The Five Aggregates describe the five main factors that constitute reality according to Buddhist thought. They are: form, feeling, perception, mental formations and consciousness. They account for both physical and mental dimensions of reality and the connections between them. They are especially important as a framework for understanding what a person is and how people function.

The content presented here follows the AQA GCSE Religious Studies A specification. If you are seeking further detail please see our resources in the 16-19 section of the website or Discovering Buddhism by Dominique Side for further reading.