The 12 Dependent Origination (The Twelve Links of Dependent Arising) is a fundamental concept in Buddhist philosophy that explains the cycle of existence and suffering. It describes the interdependent nature of all phenomena and how they contribute to the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
The twelve links are:
Ignorance: Refers to a lack of understanding of the true nature of reality, leading to delusion and confusion.
行:無明會產生行,這些行法是塑造我們的經驗並促成業力的意志行為或思想。
Mental formations: Ignorance gives rise to mental formations, which are volitional actions or thoughts that shape our experiences and contribute to karma.
Consciousness: Mental formations lead to the arising of consciousness, the awareness of sensory experiences and perceptions.
Name and form: Consciousness becomes intertwined with the physical body, forming the basis for individual existence.
Six senses: Through name and form, the six senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch, and mind) arise, enabling us to experience the world.
Contact: The interaction between the six senses and their objects creates contact, resulting in sensations and feelings.
受:接觸會產生感受或感覺,可以是愉快的、不愉快的或中性的。
Feeling: Contact gives rise to feelings or sensations, which can be pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral.
愛:感受會引起對愉快經歷的渴求或渴望,以及對不愉快經歷的厭惡。
Craving: Feelings give rise to craving or desire for pleasant experiences and the aversion to unpleasant ones.
取(執著):貪愛導致執著或執著於慾望的對象,尋求外在的快樂和滿足。
Attachment: Craving leads to attachment or clinging to the objects of desire, seeking happiness and fulfillment externally.
Becoming: Attachment fuels the process of becoming, where one is driven towards existence and the pursuit of future experiences.
Birth: Becoming leads to birth, the manifestation of a new life and the continuation of the cycle of existence.
Aging and death: Birth inevitably leads to aging and death, marking the end of one life and the beginning of another, perpetuating the cycle.
For Buddhists, the subject of practice is people rather than things, so the 12 Dependent Origination mentioned at the earliest is not only the relationship of material phenomena, but also the relationship between life and death. The 12 Dependent Origination highlights the interconnectedness and interdependence of all phenomena, emphasizing the importance of understanding and breaking free from this cycle of suffering through the cultivation of wisdom and compassion.
Here is a brief introduction to the 12 Dependent Origination only in this article. This topic, involving an intricate infinite past and an incalculable infinite future, is difficult to understand and explain well even for experienced Buddhists.