You are on page 1of 125

Dependent

Origination
The importance of the Doctrine
As Theory of Causality
As Dharma
What is Dependent Origination?
• Dependent Origination (pratītyasamutpadā/
paṭiccasmuppāda) is the Buddhist doctrine of causality.
– Everything has been caused into existence. Nothing has
been created ex nihilo.
• This is useful in understanding how there can be rebirth
without a belief in a soul.
– When a person is alive they generate karma, this does
not simply disappear at death. Instead, due to the
remaining karmic seeds a new being is caused into
existence so that remaining karmic results may take
place.
• In relation to rebirth, the Buddha taught a twelvefold formula
for Dependent Origination in many suttas such as the
Mahānidāna Sutta (which can be viewed here)

• This is perhaps most succinctly put in the following verse:

‘this existing, that exists; this arises, that arises; this not existing,
that does not exist; this ceasing , that ceases’.

Majjhima Nikāya iii 63.


Translation from Rupert Gethin, Foundations of Buddhism (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998), p 141.
Two Concepts of Existence
• Cyclical concept of
Existence
• Linear concept of
Existence
Cyclical concept of
Existence

Life Death

Birth Birth

Death Life
Linear concept of
Existence
Eternity Eternity

Birth Life Death leading to :


End of existence
- Nihilism
or
Eternal life
- Eternalism
Linear concept of
Existence
Eternity Eternity

Birth Life Death leading to :


End of existence
- Nihilism
or
Eternal life
- Eternalism
Linear concept of
Existence
Eternity Eternity

Birth Life Death leading to :


End of existence
- Nihilism
or
Eternal life
- Eternalism
Linear concept of
Existence
Eternity Eternity

Birth Life Death leading to :


End of existence
- Nihilism
or
Eternal life
- Eternalism
Linear concept of
Existence
Eternity Eternity

Birth Life Death leading to :


End of existence
- Nihilism
or
Eternal life
- Eternalism
Linear concept of
Existence
Eternity Eternity

Birth Life Death leading to :


End of existence
- Nihilism
or
Eternal life
- Eternalism
Cyclical concept of
Existence

Life Death

Birth Birth

Death Life
Cyclical concept of
Existence

Life Death

Birth Birth

Death Life
Cyclical concept of
Existence

Life Death

Birth Birth

Death Life
Cyclical concept of
Existence

Life Death

Birth Birth

Death Life
Cyclical concept of
Existence

Life Death

Birth Birth

Death Life
The cyclical nature of existence.
Dependent Origination
The Buddha :
Whoever sees Dependent Origination sees the
Dhamma.
1. Principle of Causality.
2. The components and causes of rebirth.
3. The cyclical nature of existence.
4. How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.
Things to Remember…
• Dependent Origination is linked to other Buddhist
ideas such as the saṃsāra, karma, middle way,
nirvana.
• Before looking at Dependent Origination in depth
it is worth having a quick look at saṃsāra and
karma as it will make it easier to understand.
Saṃsāra
• Saṃsāra is not a place, instead it is the type of
existence experienced by all unenlightened
beings.
• Unenlightened beings are caught in perpetual
cycle of life, death and rebirth.
• Saṃsāric existence is conditioned by three
marks: impermanence (anitya/ anicca), not-
Self (anātman/ anattā), and dis-ease or
suffering (duḥkha/dukkha).
• As there is no Saṃsāra
permanence there is no
stability. Saṃsāric existence is in a constant
state of flux and change.
• The teaching of anātman outlines that there
is nothing that has a permanent Self, there is
no underlying consciousness or sense of
person that is carried from life to life.
• There is no being that can be classed as
immortal, even the gods (devas) that are
found in Buddhist thought will one day die.
Within saṃsāra there is
nothing that is immortal.
Everything is
impermanent.

This photo is of a coffin being prepared


for a funeral in Laos (2007). Beings will
have many lives and deaths.
Karma
• Karma or kamma can be translated as
‘action’.
– In the brahmanical society it was initially
understood in terms of ritual action.
– In the Upanishads karma has come to entail the
idea that all intentional actions (good or bad)
were understood to cause an effect (good or
bad). Actions performed by an individual would
cause some sort of effect on the individual in
this life, or even in a later life.
Karma
• In Buddhist thought karma has a causative
nature. The actions that are intentionally
performed by the individual will have a
particular karmic result. Well-intentioned
good deeds will result in a pleasant and
favourable karmic result whilst malicious
and hurtful misdeeds will result in a poor
and unfavourable karmic result.
• Karma does not always have immediate
results, but can take many lifetimes to have
Listening to a
dharma talk, like
these lay people in
Myanmar (2009),
can help generate
good karma.
Principle of Causality
Dependent Origination explains the
Principle of Causality.
Nothing exists on its own, but arises from earlier
circumstances.
For example, we did not spontaneously come into
existence at birth. We are the result of our parents,
of the circumstances of their meeting, and of all that
happened before.
Everything is always a result of something that has
happened before.
Principle of Causality
Dependent Origination explains the
Principle of Causality.
Nothing exists on its own, but arises from earlier
circumstances.
For example, we did not spontaneously come into
existence at birth. We are the result of our parents,
of the circumstances of their meeting, and of all that
happened before.
Everything is always a result of something that has
happened before.
Principle of Causality
The general principle :

When A arises, B arises.


Therefore when A exists, B exists.

When A does not arise, B does not arise.


Therefore when A does not exist, B does not exist.
Principle of Causality
The general principle :

When A arises, B arises.


Therefore when A exists, B exists.

When A does not arise, B does not arise.


Therefore when A does not exist, B does not exist.
Principle of Causality
The general principle :

When A arises, B arises.


Therefore when A exists, B exists.

When A does not arise, B does not arise.


Therefore when A does not exist, B does not exist.
Principle of Causality
The general principle :

When A arises, B arises.


Therefore when A exists, B exists.

When A does not arise, B does not arise.


Therefore when A does not exist, B does not exist.
Principle of Causality
For example :
I am standing here now because I employed by Ateneo.

I know Bro. Tee through Sis Panna.


I know Sis Panna through the YMBA course at MV.

If I did not take the YMBA, I would not know Sis Panna.
If I did not know Sis Panna, I would not know Bro. Tee.
If I do not know Bro. Tee, I would not be standing here
now.
Principle of Causality
For example :
I am standing here now because I employed by Ateneo.
I am in Ateneo because of Dr. Ibana.
I know Sis Panna through the YMBA course at MV.

If I did not take the YMBA, I would not know Sis Panna.
If I did not know Sis Panna, I would not know Bro. Tee.
If I do not know Bro. Tee, I would not be standing here
now.
Principle of Causality
For example :
I am standing here now because I employed by Ateneo.
I am in Ateneo because of Dr. Ibana.
I know Dr. Ibana through a friend.

If I did not take the YMBA, I would not know Sis Panna.
If I did not know Sis Panna, I would not know Bro. Tee.
If I do not know Bro. Tee, I would not be standing here
now.
Principle of Causality
For example :
I am standing here now because I employed by Ateneo.
I am in Ateneo because of Dr. Ibana.
I know Dr. Ibana through a friend.
I know that friend through my high school

If I did not take the YMBA, I would not know Sis Panna.
If I did not know Sis Panna, I would not know Bro. Tee.
If I do not know Bro. Tee, I would not be standing here
now.
Principle of Causality
For example :
I am standing here now because I employed by Ateneo.
I am in Ateneo because of Dr. Ibana.
I know Dr. Ibana through a friend.
I know that friend through my high school

If I did not go to the school, I would not know Dr. Ibana.


If

If I did not take the YMBA, I would not know Sis Panna.
If I did not know Sis Panna, I would not know Bro. Tee.
Principle of Causality
For example :
I am standing here now because I employed by Ateneo.
I am in Ateneo because of Dr. Ibana.
I know Dr. Ibana through a friend.
I know that friend through my high school

If I did not go to the school, I would not know Dr. Ibana.


If I did not know Dr. Ibana, I won’t be employed.

If
Principle of Causality
For example :
I am standing here now because I employed by Ateneo.
I am in Ateneo because of Dr. Ibana.
I know Dr. Ibana through a friend.
I know that friend through my high school

If I did not go to the school, I would not know Dr. Ibana.


If I did not know Dr. Ibana, I won’t be employed.
If I am not employed by Ateneo, I won’t be standing
here.
If
Principle of Causality
Cause and Effect
All our intentional actions of body, speech and
mind will have their corresponding positive or
negative results.
Therefore once we know the Principle of
Causality, we know best how to lead our own
lives and take our own destiny into our own
hands.
Principle of Causality
Cause and Effect
All our intentional actions of body, speech and
mind will have their corresponding positive or
negative results.
Therefore once we know the Principle of
Causality, we know best how to lead our own
lives and take our own destiny into our own
hands.
Dependent Origination
The Buddha :
Whoever sees Dependent Origination sees the
Dhamma.
1. Principle of Causality.
2. The components and causes of rebirth.
3. The cyclical nature of existence.
4. How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.
Dependent Origination
The Buddha :
Whoever sees Dependent Origination sees the
Dhamma.
1. Principle of Causality.
2. The components and causes of rebirth.
3. The cyclical nature of existence.
4. How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.
Principle of Causality
The general principle :

When A arises, B arises.


Therefore when A exists, B exists.

When A does not arise, B does not arise.


Therefore when A does not exist, B does not exist.
Dependent Origination
The Buddha :
Whoever sees Dependent Origination sees the
Dhamma.
1. Principle of Causality.
2. The components and causes of rebirth.
3. The cyclical nature of existence.
4. How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.
Dependent Origination
The Buddha :
Whoever sees Dependent Origination sees the
Dhamma.
1. Principle of Causality.
2. The components and causes of rebirth.
3. The cyclical nature of existence.
4. How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.
Dependent Origination
The Buddha :
Whoever sees Dependent Origination sees the
Dhamma.
1. Principle of Causality.
2. The components and causes of rebirth.
3. The cyclical nature of existence.
4. How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.
Dependent Origination
The Buddha :
Whoever sees Dependent Origination sees the
Dhamma.
1. Principle of Causality.
2. The components and causes of rebirth.
3. The cyclical nature of existence.
4. How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.
What is the Buddha’s of
causality?
• Dependent Origination is a system of causality.
• This means that within saṃsāra everything exists
because of a prior cause.
• An example of this would be the link between milk and
curd. Milk, due to a certain cause, is turned into curds.
Milk and curd are not the same, but they have a causal
link.
• Saṃsāra is a ceaseless series of cause and effect.
Although there might be the appearance of stability this
is not the case.
What does that imply?
• As everything has been caused to some condition it
means that there is nothing eternal.
• It shows that things do have an existence.
• Buddhist doctrine is not nihilistic.
• Buddhism is the Middle Way between two extremes.
• It also points the way towards the cessation of saṃsāra.
• New existents only arise if there is a cause.
• If there are no causes then nothing will arise.
• It also provides an explanation as to why there can be
rebirth without a permanent self, an ātman.
The Buddha,
through his
enlightenment,
stopped generating
the kind of karma
that would lead to
another rebirth.

(Tian Tan Buddha, Hong Kong)


Dependent Origination and
Rebirth
• When a person dies, the reborn being is not the same as
the deceased but at the same time is not completely
different.
• The two beings (A and B) are linked through a causal
process. The now deceased A had performed karmic
actions and these past actions are factors in the cause that
created B.
• As A and B are connected by a shared karmic causality
they cannot be completely different from each other.
• There is a twelvefold formula for Dependent Origination
which explains rebirth.
Offerings of food left
for the dead in Laos
(2007). By giving food
and generating merit
the families of the
dead hope to improve
the next life of their
deceased relative.
The Twelvefold Formula of
Dependent Origination
• “conditioned by ignorance are formations, conditioned by
formations is consciousness, conditioned by consciousness is
mind-and-body, conditioned by mind-and-body are the six
senses, conditioned by the six-senses is sense contact,
conditioned by sense contact is feeling, conditioned by feeling is
craving , conditioned by craving is attachment, conditioned by
attachment is becoming, conditioned by becoming is birth,
conditioned by birth is old age and death”

Saṃyutta Nikāya II 2
Translation from Rupert Gethin, Foundations of Buddhism (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998), pp 141-142
(full text of Paticcasamuppadavibhanga Sutta can be found here)
The components and causes of rebirth
The 12 links of Dependent Origination :
Depending on ignorance arises kammic formations.
Depending on kammic formations arises rebirth consciousness.
Depending on rebirth consciousness arises mind and matter.
Depending on mind and matter arises six sense bases.
Depending on six sense bases arises contact.
Depending on contact arises feeling.
Depending on feeling arises craving.
Depending on craving arises clinging.
Depending on clinging arises becoming.
Depending on becoming arises birth.
Depending on birth arises decay, suffering and death.
Again…
• The teaching of Dependent Origination shows that saṃsāric
existence is governed by a system of causality. Everything is
caused into being and in turn causes more existents to arise.
• The Buddha’s teaching of Dependent Origination also highlights
that there is a way to stop further arising from occurring. This is
done by reversing the causes of arising. One must not be guided
by ignorance, but instead cultivate wisdom. One must not cling
and crave, they should be aware of impermanence and act
accordingly.
• Understanding Dependent Origination is to understand the true
reality, how things really are.
Dependent Origination
Paticca Samuppada
Paticca means “because of”, or “dependent upon”.
Samuppada means "arising” or “origination“.
Paticca Samuppada, therefore, literally means :

"Dependent Arising“
or
"Dependent Origination."
Three lifetime model of
Dependent Origination

• Past Life
- Actions (Kamma) of the Past Life

• Present Life
- Resultants on the Present Life
- Actions (Kamma) of the Present Life

• Future Life
- Resultants on the Future Life
Three lifetime model of
Dependent Origination

• Past Life
- Actions (Kamma) of the Past Life

• Present Life
- Resultants on the Present Life
- Actions (Kamma) of the Present Life

• Future Life
- Resultants on the Future Life
Three lifetime model of
Dependent Origination

• Past Life
- Actions (Kamma) of the Past Life

• Present Life
- Resultants on the Present Life
- Actions (Kamma) of the Present Life

• Future Life
- Resultants on the Future Life
Three lifetime model of
Dependent Origination

• Past Life
- Actions (Kamma) of the Past Life

• Present Life
- Resultants on the Present Life
- Actions (Kamma) of the Present Life

• Future Life
- Resultants on the Future Life
Three lifetime model of
Dependent Origination

• Past Life
- Actions (Kamma) of the Past Life

• Present Life
- Resultants on the Present Life
- Actions (Kamma) of the Present Life

• Future Life
- Resultants on the Future Life
Three lifetime model of
Dependent Origination

• Past Life
- Actions (Kamma) of the Past Life

• Present Life
- Resultants on the Present Life
- Actions (Kamma) of the Present Life

• Future Life
- Resultants on the Future Life
Three lifetime model of
Dependent Origination

• Past Life
- Actions (Kamma) of the Past Life

• Present Life
- Resultants on the Present Life
- Actions (Kamma) of the Present Life

• Future Life
- Resultants on the Future Life
Three lifetime model of
Dependent Origination

• Past Life
- Actions (Kamma) of the Past Life

• Present Life
- Resultants on the Present Life
- Actions (Kamma) of the Present Life

• Future Life
- Resultants on the Future Life
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
12 Links - Pali terms
Ignorance or delusion Avijja
Kammic formations Sankhara

Rebirth consciousness Vinnana


Mind and matter Nama-rupa
Six sense bases Salayatana
Contact Phassa
Feeling Vedana

Craving Tanha
Clinging Upadana
Becoming Bhava

Birth Jati
Decay, suffering and death Jara-marana
12 Links – Explanations
Ignorance (Avijja) is the first link or cause of the wheel of life. It clouds all right
understanding.
Dependent on ignorance of the Four Noble Truths arise activities (Sankhara) -- both
moral and immoral. The activities whether good or bad rooted in ignorance
which must necessarily have their due effects, only tend to prolong life's
wandering. Nevertheless, good actions are essential to get rid of the ills of
life.
Dependent on activities arise rebirth-consciousness (Vinnana). This links the past
with the present.
Simultaneous with the arising of rebirth-consciousness there come into being mind
and body (Nama-rupa).
The six senses (Salayatana) are the inevitable consequences of mind and body.
Because of the six senses contact (Phassa) sets in.
Contact leads to feeling (Vedana). These five -- viz., consciousness, mind and
matter, six senses, contact and feeling -- are the effects of past actions and
are called the passive side of life.
Dependent on feeling arises craving (Tanha).
Craving results in grasping (Upadana).
Grasping is the cause of Kamma (Bhava)
Which in its turn, conditions future birth (Jati).
Birth is the inevitable cause of old age and death (Jara-marana).
Buddhist art
Tibetan thangka
A painted or embroidered Buddhist banner hung in a monastery or
a family altar and occasionally carried by monks in ceremonial
processions. In Tibetan the word thang means flat, and thus
the Thangka is a kind of painting done on flat surface but
which can be rolled up when not required for display.
Originally, thangka painting became popular among traveling
monks because the scroll paintings were easily rolled and
transported from monastery to monastery. These thangka
served as important teaching tools depicting the life of the
Buddha, various influential lamas and other deities and
bodhisattvas. One popular subject is The Wheel of Life, which
is a visual representation of the Abhidharma teachings (Art of
Enlightenment).
To Buddhists these Tibetan religious paintings offer a beautiful
manifestation of the divine, being both visually and mentally
stimulating.
Buddhist art
Tibetan thangka
A painted or embroidered Buddhist banner hung in a monastery or
a family altar and occasionally carried by monks in ceremonial
processions. In Tibetan the word thang means flat, and thus
the Thangka is a kind of painting done on flat surface but
which can be rolled up when not required for display.
Originally, thangka painting became popular among traveling
monks because the scroll paintings were easily rolled and
transported from monastery to monastery. These thangka
served as important teaching tools depicting the life of the
Buddha, various influential lamas and other deities and
bodhisattvas. One popular subject is The Wheel of Life, which
is a visual representation of the Abhidharma teachings (Art of
Enlightenment).
To Buddhists these Tibetan religious paintings offer a beautiful
manifestation of the divine, being both visually and mentally
stimulating.
Buddhist art
Tibetan thangka
A painted or embroidered Buddhist banner hung in a monastery or
a family altar and occasionally carried by monks in ceremonial
processions. In Tibetan the word thang means flat, and thus
the Thangka is a kind of painting done on flat surface but
which can be rolled up when not required for display.
Originally, thangka painting became popular among traveling
monks because the scroll paintings were easily rolled and
transported from monastery to monastery. These thangka
served as important teaching tools depicting the life of the
Buddha, various influential lamas and other deities and
bodhisattvas. One popular subject is The Wheel of Life, which
is a visual representation of the Abhidharma teachings (Art of
Enlightenment).
To Buddhists these Tibetan religious paintings offer a beautiful
manifestation of the divine, being both visually and mentally
stimulating.
Buddhist art
Tibetan thangka
A painted or embroidered Buddhist banner hung in a monastery or
a family altar and occasionally carried by monks in ceremonial
processions. In Tibetan the word thang means flat, and thus
the Thangka is a kind of painting done on flat surface but
which can be rolled up when not required for display.
Originally, thangka painting became popular among traveling
monks because the scroll paintings were easily rolled and
transported from monastery to monastery. These thangka
served as important teaching tools depicting the life of the
Buddha, various influential lamas and other deities and
bodhisattvas. One popular subject is The Wheel of Life, which
is a visual representation of the Abhidharma teachings (Art of
Enlightenment).
To Buddhists these Tibetan religious paintings offer a beautiful
manifestation of the divine, being both visually and mentally
stimulating.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thangka
The Wheel of Life is a presentation of the Buddhist teaching on the
suffering and impermanence of cyclic existence.
The Lord of Death, Yama, holds the wheel of existence between his teeth, hands
and feet.
At the centre of the wheel are three poisonous delusions represented by a red
cockerel (passion and lust), a green snake (hatred and aggression), and a
black pig (ignorance and confusion). These three creatures chase and bite
each others tails, giving rise to the endless cycle or becoming.
In the next circle beings rise to enter the three higher realms, or fall to enter the
three lower realms. The six realms are represented within the spokes of the
wheel.
The hell realm, in the lower part of the wheel is characterized by the extreme
suffering of the various hot and cold hells. The hunger ghost or preta realm in
the lower left is characterized by craving and enormous hunger. The denizens
of this realm having huge empty stomachs and mouths like pinholes. The
animal realm is characterized by extreme stupidity. The jealous gods in the
upper left, suffer from competitiveness and ambition as they strive for the
realization of their desires. The god realms are sensual heavens, where the
inhabitants are totally involved in the pursuit of pleasure. Only in the human
realm, with its constant fluctuation of pleasure and pain can the dharma be
clearly heard and liberation attained.
In the outer ring are the twelve links of the chain of Dependent Origination.
Clockwise from the top they are:
1. Ignorance (a blind person)
2. Action (a potter)
3. Consciousness (a monkey holding fruits)
4. Name and form (a person rowing a boat)
5. Sources (an empty house with five windows and a door)
6. Contact (sexual contacts)
7. Feeling (a person with an arrow in his eye)
8. Craving (a person drinking alcohol)
9. Grasping (a monkey picking fruit from a tree)
10. Becoming ( a pregnant woman)
11. Rebirth (a baby being born)
12. Old age and death (an old person walking with a cane).

At the top left of the painting is the paradise of Amitabha. A pathway leads from the
judgment hall of the dead in the hell realm to Amitabha's paradise, along
which those being with the most fortunate Karma proceed. At the top right is
Shakyamuni Buddha who, having attained liberation from the wheel of
existence, points towards his perfect wheel of the Buddhadharma.

http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/life_wheel_buddhism-mandala.html
Dependent Origination
The Buddha :
Whoever sees Dependent Origination sees the
Dhamma.
1. Principle of Causality.
2. The components and causes of rebirth.
3. The cyclical nature of existence.
4. How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
Three lifetime model
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.
Ignorance or delusion Past life
Kammic formations Kamma

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter Present life
Six sense bases Resultants
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth Future life


Decay, suffering and death Resultants
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.
Ignorance or delusion
Kammic formations

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter
Six sense bases
Contact
Feeling

Craving Present life


Clinging Kamma
Becoming

Birth
Decay, suffering and death
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.
Ignorance or delusion
Kammic formations

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter
Six sense bases
Contact
Feeling

Craving
Clinging
Becoming

Birth
Decay, suffering and death
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.

Kammic formations

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter
Six sense bases
Contact
Feeling

Craving
Clinging
Becoming

Birth
Decay, suffering and death
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.

Rebirth consciousness
Mind and matter
Six sense bases
Contact
Feeling

Craving
Clinging
Becoming

Birth
Decay, suffering and death
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.

Mind and matter


Six sense bases
Contact
Feeling

Craving
Clinging
Becoming

Birth
Decay, suffering and death
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.

Six sense bases


Contact
Feeling

Craving
Clinging
Becoming

Birth
Decay, suffering and death
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.

Contact
Feeling

Craving
Clinging
Becoming

Birth
Decay, suffering and death
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.

Feeling

Craving
Clinging
Becoming

Birth
Decay, suffering and death
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.

Craving
Clinging
Becoming

Birth
Decay, suffering and death
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.

Clinging
Becoming

Birth
Decay, suffering and death
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.

Becoming

Birth
Decay, suffering and death
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.

Birth
Decay, suffering and death
How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.

Decay, suffering and death


How to attain happiness, and finally Nibbana.

NIBBANA!!!

You might also like