Dependent Origination (12-links of Dependent Arising)

PaticcaSamuppada (Pratityasamutpada in Sanskrit)

Pali Terms Usual Other 中文 Remarks

(Sanskrit) Translation Reference
1 Avijja Ignorance 無明 Lack of wisdom, which is the root
(Avidya) of all evils. Obscuration as to self
of persons and self of
phenomena.

2 Sankhara Karma or Compositional 行 Wholesome or unwholesome

(Samskara) volitional action thoughts, speech and bodily
formations deeds.

3 Vinnana Conciousness 識 Normally 6 consciousnesses but

(Vijnana) is taken as 8 in the Yogacara
School.

4 Nama-rupa Name & Form Corporeality/ 名色 Mental & physical existence. 4

or Materiality & mental aggregates and one
Mind & Matter Mentality physical body.

5 Ayatana Six bases or Six sense 六入 Eye/Sight, ear/hearing,

(Shadayatana) senses organs/spheres nose/smell, tongue/taste,
body/touch or tangibles and
mind/thoughts (mind objects,
consciousness).

6 Phassa (Six-fold) Contact 觸 A mental factor and period in

(sparsha) contact which the objects, sense
or power/organ and consciousness
Sense come together, causing one to
impression distinguish an object as
pleasurable, painful or neutral.

7 Vedana Feeling Sensation 受 Posited as a mental factor that

experiences pleasure, pain and
neutral feeling. Pleasure leads to
a strong desire for more while
pain generates an avoidance
desire.

8 Tanha Craving 愛 A mental factor that increases

(trishna) desire but without any
satisfaction.

9 Upadana Attachment Grasping 取 A stronger degree of desire. 4

basic varieties: desired objects,
views of self, bad system of
ethics and conduct; and other
bad views.

10 Bjava Existence Process of 有 A period lasting from the time of

(bhava) becoming fully potentialised karma up to the
beginning of next lifetime.

1
11 Jati Rebirth 生
12 Jara-marana Ageing & Decay & Death 老死
(jaramaranam) Death

Notes:
Links 1, 2, 8, 9 and 10 are the five karmic causes of rebirths.

Links 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are the five karmic results in the rounds of rebirths.

This doctrine is interpreted in various ways and levels:

 The Theravada tradition uses it to explain the arising of sufferings; that all composite existence
is without substantiality. This doctrine is then used the basis for the negation of self.
 In the Mahayana, condition arising is further interpreted to validate the unreality of existence by
reason of its relativity.
 Madhyamika School equates this doctrine with shunyata (emptiness). Condition arising is taken
to show that because of their relativity, appearances have only empirical validity and are
ultimately unreal.
 In the Yogacara view, only true understanding of this doctrine can overcome the error of taking
what does not exist for existent and what does exist for nonexistent.
 The Prajnaparamita Sutras stresses that this doctrine does not refer to a temporal succession
but rather to the essential interdependence of all things.

Sources of compilation:

 The Meaning of Life; The Dalai Lama, Wisdom Publications 92

 The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen; Shambhala Pubn 91
 Living Dharma; Jack Kornfield, Shambhala Pubn 96
 Buddhist Dictionary; Nyanatiloka, Singapore Buddhist Meditation Centre 91
 Paticcasamuppada - Dependent Origination: A Layperson’s Perspective,
Ron Wijewantha, Buddhist Publication Society, 2002