COURSE DESCRIPTION
Pratītyasamutpāda ('Dependent Origination') is a Buddhist term for the principle that all phenomena arise and exist only in dependence upon other phenomena and, therefore, have no inherent self-nature. To understand this fundamental concept, this six-week course uses the traditional 12-Link 'Chain of Causation' or ‘Wheel of Becoming’ (Bhavachakra) structure to demonstrate the self-perpetuating, cyclical nature of existence.
PRIMARY READING
Mahanidana Sutta (“Discourse on Causation”) Dīgha Nikāya, Sutta #15
The Mass of Suffering
12 – OLD AGE & DEATH / JARĀMARAṆA 11 – BIRTH / JĀTI 10 – BEING / BHAVA 9 – CLINGING / UPĀDĀNA 8 – CRAVING / TAṆHĀ 7 – SENSATION / VEDANĀ 6 – CONTACT / SPARŚA 5 – SIX SENSES / ṢAḌĀYATANA 4 – NAME/FORM / NĀMARŪPA 3 – CONSCIOUSNESS / VIJÑĀNA 2 – CONDITIONING / SAṂSKĀRA 1 – IGNORANCE / AVIDYĀ
SYLLABUS
THE WHEEL OF BECOMING (Bhavachakra Mandala)
☸️ FIRST TURNING – The arising of sentient beings
- From Old Age & Death to Ignorance
- From Ignorance to Old Age & Death
☸️ SECOND TURNING – The arising of phenomena
- From Decay & Destruction to Ignorance
- From Ignorance to Decay & Destruction
☸️ THIRD TURNING – The arising of all phenomena
- Arising & Ceasing to Ignorance
- Ignorance to Arising & Ceasing
