--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we call life...is the combination of…" description: "\"“What we call life...is the combination of the Five Aggregates, a combination of physical and mental energies. These are constantly changing; they do n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/walpola-rahula-30756_buddhism_what-we-call-life-is-the-combination-of_1723398.png" --- # What we call life...is the combination of the Five… ![“What we call life...is the combination of the Five Aggregates, a combination of physical and mental energies. These are constantly changing; they do not remain the same for two consecutive moments. Every moment they are born and they die. 'When the Aggregates arise, decay and die, O bhikkhu, every…” quote by Walpola Rahula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/walpola-rahula-30756_buddhism_what-we-call-life-is-the-combination-of_1723398.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/walpola-rahula-30756_buddhism_what-we-call-life-is-the-combination-of_1723398.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b3/walpola-rahula-30756_buddhism_what-we-call-life-is-the-combination-of_1723398.png) > ““What we call life...is the combination of the Five Aggregates, a combination of physical and mental energies. These are constantly changing; they do not remain the same for two consecutive moments. Every moment they are born and they die. 'When the Aggregates arise, decay and die, O bhikkhu, every moment you are born, decay, and die.' This, even now during this life time, every moment we are born and die, but we continue. If we can understand that in this life we can continue without a permanent, unchanging substance like Self or Soul, why can't we understand that those forces themselves can continue without a Self or a Soul behind them after the non-functioning of the body?”” [Walpola Rahula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walpola-rahula/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life consists of ever‑changing physical and mental aggregates; there is no permanent self, and continuity persists beyond the body. **In simple terms:** All things change; no lasting soul exists. Key Takeaway Recognize impermanence and let go of self‑attachment. Themes impermanence non‑self continuity Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - Meditation - death contemplation - ethical decision‑making - psychological insight Key Concepts Buddhist doctrine aggregates dependent origination Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing no permanent self affect your daily choices? - Can you find comfort in the idea of continuity without a soul? A Different Perspective Understanding impermanence can cause existential anxiety for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Every moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-moment/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life after death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-after-death/) [Life-energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-energy-2/) [Reincarnation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reincarnation/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“When the Aggregates arise, decay and die, O bhikkhu, every moment you are born, decay, and die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/when-the-aggregates-arise-decay-and-die-o-bhikkhu-every-moment-you/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Life is a combination of adjustments n compromises. 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