- Nyanaponika uses “Gruppen” or “Daseinsgruppen” (“groups” or “groups of existence”). Ven. Nyanatiloka explains in the preface to Ven. Nyanaponika’s translation of the 22nd Samyutta that they are “groups of clinging” in the sense that they are objects of clinging. He finds it misleading to use too “compact” translations like bundles, pieces, or aggregates (he says “Zusammenhäufungen”). The reason for that is, if I manage to put it correctly into English, that they are only abstract classifications and don’t have a reality as such in terms of one complete group with all its constituents. For example, in a given state of consciousness, there is only one sort of feeling that is present, i.e. pleasant, not the entire group of feelings.
- Nyanatiloka in his translation of the AN uses “Daseinsgruppen” too, and “die Objekte des Anhaftens bildende Daseinsgruppen” (= groups of existence that form the objects for clinging) for grasping aggregates.
- Mettiko has similarly “Daseinsgruppen” for aggregates, and “Daseinsgruppen, an denen angehaftet wird” (groups of existence that are clung to) for grasping aggregates.
- Neumann has “Stücke” (pieces) and “Stücke des Anhangens” (pieces of attachment).
- Kusalagnana-Maitrimurti-Traetow have “Gruppen des Anhaftens” (groups of clinging).
- Hellmuth Hecker has “Faktoren des Ergreifens” (factors of grasping).
- Ekkehard Saß (translator of Thag and Thig) has simply Khandhas.
- Geiger has “Gruppen des Erfassens” (groups of comprehending?) for grasping aggregates. In the definition of death in SN12.2 he has “Wesensbestandteile (khandha)” (i.e. components of being + the Pali word in brackets).
- In the DN suttas translated by Franke “khanda”, as it seems, does not occur.
None of those does really convince me. Maybe I should consider “Daseinsgruppen” (groups of existence), for lack of a better solution.
Right now I have “zusammenwirkende Faktoren” (factors that work together), but that’s also a bit clumsy.
Any thoughts by other German speakers here? @Nessie, @Gabriel, @anon82557130, Ven. @vimalanyani, or others?