Sankhāra

Okay kiddo, so you know how when you do something many times, it becomes easier for you to do it again and again? Like how you learned to ride a bike or tie your shoes? These actions become habits and habits become part of who you are.

Well, in Buddhism there's a similar idea called sankhāra. It means "conditioned things" or "formations" and it refers to anything that's been created or shaped by our experiences, thoughts and actions. Basically, sankhāra are the habits, patterns and tendencies that make us who we are.

For example, if you're always very kind to others, this kindness becomes part of your sankhāra; it shapes the way you interact with people and the kind of person you are. Likewise, if you're always angry or selfish or jealous, those negative emotions become part of your sankhāra.

What's important to understand is that sankhāra are not fixed or permanent. You can change them by becoming aware of them and deliberately choosing different ways of thinking and acting. So even if you have a habit of being angry, you can work on changing that habit through meditation, self-reflection and practicing kindness towards others.

So, in a nutshell, sankhāra are the habits and patterns that make us who we are, but we have the power to change them if we want to.