2. • The Law of Dependent Origination is primarily
the Buddha’s insight of understanding
suffering and the cessation of suffering
without which one is stuck in a cycle of birth
and death. The Law is associated with twelve
links (Nidana). Each link is based on the
principle of Cause and Effect which
determines one’s condition.

3. 12 LINKS OF DEPENDENT
ORIGINATION
which is an incomplete and imperfect
understanding, illusion and unconsciousness,
defilement and impurities of the mind is a condition for
mental formation.
• Mental formation especially that of mental impurities
which is the formulation of habitual energy and actions
done in the present life which is generally liable to
conform to the patterns established in previous lives is
the condition for consciousness.

4. 12 LINKS CONTINUED-1
• Consciousness which literally is the "Mind" (involving
the process of perceiving, comprehending,
recognizing, and differentiating) is the condition for
name and form.
• Name and form which is the combination of spirit
and matter, mind and body is the condition for the
six senses.
• The six senses comprising the eye, ear, nose, tongue,
body and the mind which are the tools to external
contacts, awareness, and expressions are the
conditions for contact.

5. CONT’D-2
• Contact which is the psychological process created
by the six senses, the objects and
the consciousness is the condition for feeling.
• Feeling which are of three kinds – suffering,
pleasure, no-suffering-no-pleasure – is the condition
for craving.
• Craving which is the sensuous desire, pursuit for
pleasures, attachment to gain and fear of loss is the
condition for clinging.
• Clinging which is the desire to keep and possess
material things permanently is the condition for
becoming.

6. CONT’D-3
• Becoming which means, to give birth, create
and exist, is the condition for birth.
• Birth which implies life is an effect of all
mental activities that make the life to happen;
it is the condition for aging and death.
• Aging and death which arises from birth is the
condition for ignorance.

7. The Law of Dependent Origination can
be basically understood in three ways:
• Related to Cause and Effect: One reaps what one
sows; this is why Buddhism emphasizes in changing
fate by changing conditions.
• Related to Inter-dependency: There is no
independent existence; nothing has its own nature
of existence.
• Related to Profundity: For all phenomena,
the existence of the reality of nature is dependent
upon a number of causal factors, and also
impermanent.