I was thinking further on how states are annata. About how they are simply a momentary circumstance, a ‘shape’ arising based on causes and conditions. Shifting in accord with causes and conditions as well. But in the moment a state adheres – in the duration between arising and ceasing – the potential for clinging arises.

I get attached to states. I get attached to ice cream when it is cold, to this body when it is healthy, to a peach at perfect ripeness. Actually, as I think of it further, its not really the states I am attached to; I get attached to the characteristics that arise when 4es (intangibles are for another day) are in certain states.

Perhaps you, Dear Reader, will recall a reflection from the dukkha days: I bought a special dessert –with both hot and cold components –to give to my brother. I stressed as I drove home with it that it would get too hot and the ice cream would melt, or too cold and the toppings would lose their crisp. It really made me see the nature of the treat was not its state at a particular temperature, the nature of the treat was flux, but I stressed to try and keep it in a state I felt was ideal for deliciousness. I stressed at its very fluxalicious nature.

Now I see further that what I want, what I love, isn’t the state – it’s the characteristics, in this case of deliciousness, that a particular state imparts. There are qualities that arise during particular states, but they don’t inhere. Its not like that sweet treat IS DELICOUS. Or IS DELICOUSNESS. No the treat I bought was just a treat in a particular state, at a particular temperature, as soon as state shifts, the qualities change, as does the desirability of the treat.

I get attached to characteristics, I tend to imagine a clump, a state, as defined by its qualities. I use qualities/characteristics to identify something, mark it as special, desirable, mine. In the absence of traits identity is meaningless. This then is a double-edged sword, fleeting characteristics of fleeting states trigger craving in me, and I use these fleeting characteristics to deceive myself about the nature of object, as something special, unique, desire-worthy.

But all it takes is for a shift in state and then a subsequent shift in qualities occurs. Supposed identity of any object, and the supposed identity I believe it imparts on me, is gone in an instant. That is because nothing is intrinsically aggregated, or clumped together as Mae Yo says, it is just aggregated momentary into a named state. Then, what is aggregated disaggregates when the causes and conditions shift. In every state, in every phase of a state, there are always the seeds of disaggregation. Everything’s nature is to disaggregate. This is why everything is actually anatta.