Why everything you perceive is a mental construction, according to ancient Buddhist philosophy

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Pali term sankhara describes the fundamental process of how we form our reality. It refers to both the conditioned things in the world and the active, volitional formations of our own minds. Understanding this mechanism is central to the Buddhist path toward liberation from suffering and the cycle of rebirth.

Sankhara is a multifaceted concept with no direct English equivalent. In its passive sense, it encompasses all conditioned phenomena—everything from a cloud or a molecule to a human thought. These are 'formations' that have been put together. Because they are composite, the Buddha taught that all such things are inherently impermanent and lack a fixed essence.

In its active sense, sankhara refers to the mind’s form-creating faculty. These are volitional formations—intentions and mental dispositions that color our consciousness and drive future actions. This process is a key link in dependent origination, where ignorance of impermanence leads to these formations, which in turn support the stationing of consciousness and the continuation of suffering. Essentially, what we intend and obsess over creates the conditions for our future experiences.

Crucially, Buddhist scholars like David Kalupahana note that these dispositions are not meant to be entirely eliminated, as they are essential for our perspective and personality. Instead, the goal is purification. Even an enlightened individual, or arahant, retains a personality shaped by past karmic traces, though they no longer generate new, binding formations. The cessation of these karmic constructions is synonymous with nirvana, the unconditioned state beyond the cycle of becoming.

The concept bridges the gap between the internal and external, suggesting that our consciousness and the world we perceive are interdependent. By recognizing that our mental imprints and sensory faculties are themselves conditioned, one gains the wisdom to navigate the phenomenal world without being trapped by the misconceptions of a permanent self.

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