The concepts or doctrines of Dependant Origination and Non-Self (Anatta) are two concepts that are considered unique to Buddhism. They are both also central to the true understanding of the Buddha's teachings.

The Buddha often expressed his enlightenment as the full and complete understanding of the Four Noble Truths and Dependant Origination, indicating that their understanding is essential for enlightenment.

Dependant Origination describes the concept of Cause and Effect, and the conditioned state of all existence. This is true of the samsaric world we live in, as opposed to the Unconditioned state of Nibbana.

There are 12 links to Dependant Origination:

1. Ignorance
2. Mental Formation (Mental Habits or Tendencies)
3. Consciousness
4. Nama-Rupa
5. Sense Organs
6. Contact
7. Feeling
8. Craving (Desire)
9. Clinging (Attachment)
10. Becoming
11. Birth
12. Aging and Death

Explanation:

1. Ignorance is the condition necessary for the arising of Mental Formation.

2. Mental Formation is the condition necessary for the arising of Consciousness.

3. Consciousness is the condition necessary for the arising of Nama-Rupa.

4. Nama-Rupa is the condition necessary for the arising of Sense Organs.

5. Sense Organs is the condition necessary for the arising of Contact.

6. Contact is the condition necessary for the arising of Feeling.

7. Feeling is the condition necessary for the arising of Craving.

8. Craving is the condition necessary for the arising of Clinging.

9. Clinging is the condition necessary for the arising of Becoming.

10. Becoming is the condition necessary for the arising of Birth.

11. Birth is the condition necessary for the arising of Aging and Death.

Different Perspectives:

1. Rebirth

   Dependant Origination can be understood from the perspective of Rebirth, from a past life to a present life or from a present life to a future life.

2. Existence

   It can also be understood from the perspective of the origination of existence. In this context, Ignorance is the false belief in a permanent and separate Self. In truth, the individual Self is nothing more than the original substance or essence that is all - the Buddha Nature. This nature or essence is described as luminous and bright, and is undifferentiated.

   The individual Self, in its effort to substantiate its false belief in a permanent and separate Self, is attracted to "evidence" that validates this belief and is averse to "evidence" that does not validate it. This is the Mental Habit it creates for itself as a result of Ignorance that results in Volitional Action (Karmic Action).

   Once these mental tendencies or habits become imprinted in the Consciousness, it perpetuate its own existence through the creation of Nama-Rupa (Mind-Matter). From this comes the creation of Sense Organs, which resulted in Contact that creates Feeling.

   From Feeling we get Craving or Desire for sense pleasures, which leads to Clinging or Attachment to be reborn or to continue existing for more sense pleasures. Thus, Becoming or the coming together of the continuum stream of thoughts (Self) and a physical body or existence happens.

   And from Becoming, Birth occurs, and from Birth we have Aging and Death.

3. Defilements, Actions, Sufferings

   Dependant Origination can also be perceived from the perspective of Defilements (Kilesas), Actions (Kamma) and Sufferings (Dukkha).

   Ignorance, Craving and Clinging are defilements.

   Mental Formation and Becoming are actions.

   Consciousness, Nama-Rupa, Sense Organs, Contact, Feeling, Birth and Aging and Death are sufferings.

   In this way, we see that the mental defilements of ignorance, craving and clinging lead us into volitional or kammic actions (mental formations or thoughts and becoming) that eventually results in sufferings.

Recognising this continuous samsaric cycles of existence is the first step towards liberation from Dukkha. Recognising that there is an alternative to this world of samsara propels us towards achieving and realising Nibbana, using the Noble Eightfold Path as its vehicle to reach the other shore.

Thus, it is said, "He who sees Dependant Origination sees the Dhamma, and he who sees the Dhamma sees the Buddha."

More on Dependant Origination:

Buddhanet: Dependant Origination
Nyingma.com: The 12 Modes of Dependant Origination

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