So in this sutta the Buddha asks Aggivessana if he can control his body by making it thus and thus - as an argument that his material form is not his self.
I can accept that the five aggregates is not myself, theoretically at least, but why is the controlling of them an argument?
Bhikkhu Bodhi writes in the footnotes: The Buddha is here suggesting that the aggregates are not self because they lack one of the essential characteristics of selfhood — being susceptible to the exercise of mastery. What cannot come under my mastery or perfect control cannot be identified as “my self.”
Why is mastery over the material form of my body required in order for it to be a basis for the self?
After all, we can choose to gain weight, lose weight. Move our body etc.
Must I grow three heads and make the body thus and thus, in order to call it my own? Why is it less myself if I can’t do that?
Who said wielding mastery over something is a good basis for whether or not it is regarded as my own?
I’m stuck on this one and would really like some help on clarifying this argument made by the Buddha!
With Metta