Dependent Origination As the Highest Law of Nature

...Monks, I will teach you Dependent Origination and dependently arisen phenomena (things).

Listen and attend closely, I will speak.

...And what, Monks, is Dependent Origination?

(1) With birth as condition, aging-and-death [comes to be]: whether there is an arising of Tathāgatas or no arising of Tathāgatas, that element still persists, the stableness of The Teachings, the fixed course of The Teachings, specific conditionality.

A Tathāgata awakens to this and breaks through to it. Having done so, he explains it, teaches it, proclaims it, establishes it, discloses it, analyzes it, illuminates it.

And he says: See! With birth as condition, Monks, aging-and-death.

(2) With existence as condition, birth…

(3) With clinging as condition, existence...

(4) With craving as condition, clinging...

(5) With feeling as condition, craving…

(6) With contact as condition, feeling…

(7) With the six sense bases as condition, contact…

(8) With name-and-form as condition, the six sense bases...

(9) With consciousness as condition, name-and-form...

(10) With volitional formations (choices/decisions) as condition, consciousness…

(11) With ignorance (unknowing of true reality) as condition, volitional formations (choices/decisions): whether there is an arising of Tathāgatas or no arising of Tathāgatas, that element still persists, the stableness of The Teachings, the fixed course of The Teachings, specific conditionality.

A Tathāgata awakens to this and breaks through to it. Having done so, he explains it, teaches it, proclaims it, establishes it, discloses it, analyzes it, illuminates it.

And he says: See! With ignorance (unknowing of true reality) as condition, Monks, volitional formations (choices/decisions).

Thus, Monks, the reality in this, the lack of error, the conciseness, specific conditionality: this is called Dependent Origination.

(Reference: SN 12.20)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how Dependent Origination exists and continues whether a Buddha (i.e. a Tathāgata) arises in the world or not. A Buddha awakens to the wisdom of Dependent Origination and having acquired this wisdom they will “explain it, teach it, proclaim it, establish it, disclose it, analyze it, illuminate it” so that others can learn, reflect, and practice awakening to Enlightenment.

A Buddha’s Teachings will guide countless beings to the attainment of Enlightenment during their life and after their death. Those Teachings will include, among other things, Dependent Origination because without this wisdom, the mind will be unable to fully understand the arising of discontentedness and continued rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth.

Any Practitioner interested to awaken to Enlightenment will need to understand Dependent Origination. Dependent Origination is the ultimate or highest law of nature as it explains the “cause and effect” relationship that leads to discontentedness and continued rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth.

A Buddha (i.e. a Tathāgata) will understand and explain Dependent Origination as part of their Teachings and ensure their Students understand this important Teaching as part of The Natural Laws of Existence. With the wisdom and a practice of The Natural Laws of Existence, a being can awaken to Enlightenment.

Detailed explanation of Dependent Origination is available in this same book series found in Chapter 14 of the book “The First Stage of Enlightenment (Stream-Enterer)” (Volume 5).

Now that you have completed reading (Volume 6) of this book series and may decide to read this book multiple times, I would like to take a moment to personally “thank you” for your determination, dedication, and diligence to learn, reflect, and practice The Teachings of The Buddha on The Path to Enlightenment.

The time, effort, energy, and resources that you devote to this path are serving to help you and countless other beings. As you choose to learn and practice these Teachings, you will significantly reduce then eliminate any harm that you are putting into the world through your unknowing of true reality. The unEnlightened mind does not understand what it does not understand.

You are now applying time, effort, energy, and resources to improving the condition of the mind, the condition of your life, and, thus, the condition of the world through investigating The Teachings to acquire wisdom. The world becomes a better place when we each individually choose to improve our own life practice taking responsibility for our own intentions, speech, actions, and livelihood while improving our wisdom and mental discipline.

I admire individuals who choose to walk towards harmlessness. I admire individuals who choose to realize there is a better way of life and create that better way of life for themselves through seeking guidance. And, I admire individuals who do not shrink back from the struggle to move the mind towards Enlightenment when the natural tendency might be to remain complacent.

Why have I chosen to share these Teachings with you? 

“That it may be for the benefit and peacefulness of the multitude (many people), out of compassion for the world, for the benefit and peacefulness of heavenly beings and humans”. (Gotama Buddha)

“Because if they understand even a single sentence, that will lead to their welfare and peacefulness for a long time”. (Gotama Buddha)

May you discover the freedom associated with a mind that is peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy permanently - the Enlightened mind.

As you need help to learn, reflect, and practice these Teachings, you are welcome to seek guidance which is available openly and freely to “all beings”.