myownbuddha

Pratityasamutpada, also known as Dependent Origination, is a fundamental concept in Buddhist philosophy that explains the interdependent nature of all things. It is a key teaching in both the Theravada and Mahayana traditions and forms the basis for the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. At its core, Pratityasamutpada describes how all phenomena arise in dependence upon other phenomena. It teaches that nothing exists in isolation, but rather, everything is interconnected and dependent on each other for its existence. This interdependence can be traced through twelve links or stages, which describe how suffering arises in the cycle of birth and rebirth. The Twelve Links of Pratityasamutpada The twelve links of Pratityasamutpada describe the cycle of dependent origination that perpetuates the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. The twelve links are: Ignorance (avijja) - the ignorance or delusion that obscures our true nature and leads to suffering. Volitional activities (s...