What happens to the five aggregates after death?
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What happens to the five skandhas of a particular person after death?
1. Do they stay together, and cause birth of a one specific person (which can be called rebirth), or do they separate?
2. If they separate, do they separate just into 5, or does each aggregate split into smaller parts?
3. If they separate, do they cause births of many different persons?
I'm interested in answers from many traditions, with references to relevant sources (scriptures, books, articles).
EDIT: I didn't get unambiguous answers to my questions, but what Suminda and Prahlad write seems to suggest that all the aggregates arise and pass all the time, but when we look at them at a higher level, we can conclude that four of the aggregates (sensation, perception, mental formations and consciousness) stay together and cause a new birth of one specific person, while the remaining aggregate (rūpa, matter) separates and splits into parts. **Can anyone confirm/disconfirm this?**
EDIT 2: I was asked to specify what is exactly meant by "overall structure of the aggregates remain intact", when we know that the aggregates arise and pass all the time. What I mean is the continuity of the illusion called "self". I have the illusion that I'm the same person as a moment ago, even though my body, my feelings, etc. have changed. Does this illusion continue after death? **According to Buddhist doctrines, is there an illusion of the continuity of consciousness? Of the continuity of feelings? Of the continuity of the body?**
I watched [Yuttadhammo's video about rebirth](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxCEi4cQBA0) and understood that Buddhists believe in perceived continuity of the consciousness after death. Is this a canonical opinion that can be concluded from Buddhist scriptures? How about the continuity of other aggregates?
Asked by kami
(2732 rep)
Feb 18, 2015, 12:36 PM
Last activity: Jul 10, 2018, 06:06 PM
Last activity: Jul 10, 2018, 06:06 PM