The Five Aggregates (Skandhas) - Interactive Visualization

An interactive D3.js visualization exploring the Five Aggregates (Pañcakkhandha), a fundamental Buddhist concept that describes the components that make up a living being according to Buddhist philosophy.

What are the Five Aggregates?

The Five Aggregates are:

1. Form (Rūpa) - The physical body and material world
2. Feeling (Vedanā) - Sensations arising from contact between senses and the world
3. Perception (Saṃjñā) - Recognition or labeling of experiences
4. Mental Formations (Saṅkhāra) - Thoughts, emotions, desires, and habits
5. Consciousness (Vijñāna) - Basic awareness of experience

Features

• Interactive pie chart with hover effects to explore each aggregate
• Detailed explanations and real-world examples for each component
• Buddhist teachings context explaining how understanding these aggregates relates to the path toward enlightenment
• Responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes
• Clean, modern interface with carefully chosen typography and colors

How to Use

• Hover over any segment of the pie chart to learn about that specific aggregate
• View examples and detailed descriptions in the information panel below
• When not hovering, see the broader context of why this teaching matters in Buddhism

Learn More

For deeper understanding of Buddhist teachings and philosophy, visit What Buddha Taught - a comprehensive resource for authentic Buddhist teachings and their practical applications.

Technical Details

Built with:

• D3.js v7.8.5 for data visualization
• Vanilla JavaScript (ES6+)
• CSS3 with Google Fonts (Roboto and IBM Plex Sans)
• Responsive SVG graphics

The visualization emphasizes the concept of "Not Self" (Anatta) - the Buddhist teaching that what we commonly think of as a permanent, unchanging self is actually a collection of ever-changing processes represented by these five aggregates.