4.04.2011
Posted by
Mike |
In the Parable of the Magic City from The Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Law, the Universal Surpassing Wisdom Buddha teaches the doctrine of the The Law of The Twelve Causes.
This is suffering. This is the origination of suffering. This is the extinction of suffering. This the way to the extinction of suffering.
Ignorance causes Action
Action causes Consciousness
Consciousness causes Name and Form
Name and Form cause the Six Entrances [sense organs]
Six Entrances cause Contact
Contact causes Sensation [feeling]
Sensation causes Desire [craving or love]
Desire causes Clinging [grasping]
Clinging causes Existence [becoming]
Existence causes Birth
Birth causes Old Age and Death and Worry, Grief, Lamentation, Suffering and Distress
When ignorance is extinguished, actions are extinguished. When actions are extinguished, then consciousness is extinguished. When consciousness is extinguished, then name and form are extinguished. When name and form are extinguished, then the six sense organs are extinguished, then contact is extinguished. When contact is extinguished, then feeling is extinguished. When feeling is extinguished, then craving is extinguished. When craving is extinguished, then grasping is extinguished. When grasping is extinguished, then becoming is extinguished. When becoming is extinguished, then birth is extinguished. When birth is extinguished, then old age and death, worry, grief, suffering and distress are extinguished.
In Buddhism For Today, the author and the founder of Rissho Kosei-kai, Nikkyo Niwano provides a nice illustration that timelines the twelve causes both in our life and in the past and future.
Another representation that I found helpful came from the site Rethinking The Buddhist Temple
IGNORANCE is the cause of KARMA (Action)
Lack of wisdom, cloud the right understanding, which is the root of all evils. Obscuration as to self of persons and self of phenomena (existence).
Lack of wisdom, cloud the right understanding, which is the root of all evils. Obscuration as to self of persons and self of phenomena (existence).
ACTION causes REBIRTH CONSCIOUSNESS
Karma is the action of wholesome or unwholesome thoughts, speech and bodily deeds.
Karma is the action of wholesome or unwholesome thoughts, speech and bodily deeds.
REBIRTH CONSCIOUSNESS causes NAME and FORM
Rebirth consciousness can be understood as the mind, for karma or action disrupt the mind consciousness (past karma links to the present).
Rebirth consciousness can be understood as the mind, for karma or action disrupt the mind consciousness (past karma links to the present).
NAME and FORM causes the SIX ENTRANCES (Six spheres of Sense)
Simultaneously with the arising of mind consciousness comes Name and Form is the Emotion and the Physical existence.
Simultaneously with the arising of mind consciousness comes Name and Form is the Emotion and the Physical existence.
THE SIX ENTRANCES causes CONTACT
The six entrances are the eye, ear, nose, tongue, touch and mental faculty or sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch and combined with mind experience that is the consequence of Name and Form.
The six entrances are the eye, ear, nose, tongue, touch and mental faculty or sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch and combined with mind experience that is the consequence of Name and Form.
CONTACT causes FEELINGS
Contact is a mental factor and period in which the objects, sense power/organ and emotion (mind) come together, causing one to distinguish an object as pleasurable, painful or neutral.
Contact is a mental factor and period in which the objects, sense power/organ and emotion (mind) come together, causing one to distinguish an object as pleasurable, painful or neutral.
FEELING causes CRAVING (DESIRE)
Pleasure leads to a strong desire for more while pain generates an avoidance desire.
Pleasure leads to a strong desire for more while pain generates an avoidance desire.
CRAVING causes GRASPING (ATTACHMENT)
Craving is a mental factor that increases desire but without any satisfaction.
Craving is a mental factor that increases desire but without any satisfaction.
GRASPING causes EXISTENCE
Grasping is a stronger degree of desire. There are 4 basic varieties such as desired objects, views of self, bad system of ethics and conduct (power and ego)
Grasping is a stronger degree of desire. There are 4 basic varieties such as desired objects, views of self, bad system of ethics and conduct (power and ego)
EXISTENCE causes BIRTH
Existence is only a period lasting from the time of fully potentialised karma up to the beginning of next lifetime. Meaning that, the karma seed is ripe to become fruit. One reap in this lifetime what one have sown in past lifetime. (cycle of rebirth)
Existence is only a period lasting from the time of fully potentialised karma up to the beginning of next lifetime. Meaning that, the karma seed is ripe to become fruit. One reap in this lifetime what one have sown in past lifetime. (cycle of rebirth)
BIRTH causes OLD AGE and DEATH
Hence can be summarized that the cycle is a repayment of karma debt (good or bad). Birth and death is both the beginning of a new life (karma reincarnation within this existence of world).
Hence can be summarized that the cycle is a repayment of karma debt (good or bad). Birth and death is both the beginning of a new life (karma reincarnation within this existence of world).
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2 comments:
I want you to know that your blog inspired me to start one of my own.
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