The Buddha was staying in Sāvatthī... "Bhikkhus, I will teach you the dependent origination and analyze it for you. Listen carefully and pay attention; I will speak." "Yes, Bhante," those bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:

"Bhikkhus, what is dependent origination? Bhikkhus, with ignorance as condition, volitional formations come to be; with volitional formations as condition, consciousness comes to be; with consciousness as condition, name-and-form comes to be; with name-and-form as condition, the six sense bases come to be; with the six sense bases as condition, contact comes to be; with contact as condition, feeling comes to be; with feeling as condition, craving comes to be; with craving as condition, clinging comes to be; with clinging as condition, existence comes to be; with existence as condition, birth comes to be; with birth as condition, aging-and-death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair come to be. Such is the origin of this whole mass of suffering.

"Bhikkhus, what is aging-and-death? The aging of beings in the various orders of beings, their old age, brokenness of teeth, greyness of hair, wrinkling of skin, decline of life, weakness of faculties—this is called aging. The passing of beings out of the various orders of beings, their passing away, dissolution, disappearance, dying, completion of time, dissolution of the aggregates, laying down of the body—this is called death. This is aging and this is death. This, bhikkhus, is called aging-and-death.

"Bhikkhus, what is birth? The birth of beings into the various orders of beings, their coming to birth, descent [into the womb], production, manifestation of the aggregates, obtaining of the sense bases. This, bhikkhus, is called birth.

"Bhikkhus, what is existence? There are three kinds of existence: sense-sphere existence, form-sphere existence, formless-sphere existence. This, bhikkhus, is called existence.

"Bhikkhus, what is clinging? There are four kinds of clinging: clinging to sensual pleasures, clinging to views, clinging to rules and vows, and clinging to a doctrine of self. This, bhikkhus, is called clinging.

"Bhikkhus, what is craving? There are six classes of craving: craving for forms, craving for sounds, craving for odors, craving for tastes, craving for tactile objects, craving for mental phenomena. This, bhikkhus, is called craving.

"Bhikkhus, what is feeling? There are six classes of feeling: feeling born of eye-contact, feeling born of ear-contact, feeling born of nose-contact, feeling born of tongue-contact, feeling born of body-contact, feeling born of mind-contact. This, bhikkhus, is called feeling.

"Bhikkhus, what is contact? There are six classes of contact: eye-contact, ear-contact, nose-contact, tongue-contact, body-contact, mind-contact. This, bhikkhus, is called contact.

"Bhikkhus, what are the six sense bases? The eye base, the ear base, the nose base, the tongue base, the body base, the mind base. These, bhikkhus, are called the six sense bases.

"Bhikkhus, what is name-and-form? Feeling, perception, volition, contact, and attention: this is called name. The four great elements and the form derived from the four great elements: this is called form. Thus this name and this form are together called name-and-form.

"Bhikkhus, what is consciousness? There are six classes of consciousness: eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness, body-consciousness, mind-consciousness. This, bhikkhus, is called consciousness.

"Bhikkhus, what are volitional formations? There are three kinds of volitional formations: bodily volitional formation, verbal volitional formation, mental volitional formation. These, bhikkhus, are called volitional formations.

"Bhikkhus, what is ignorance? Not knowing suffering, not knowing the origin of suffering, not knowing the cessation of suffering, not knowing the way leading to the cessation of suffering. This, bhikkhus, is called ignorance.

"Thus, bhikkhus, with ignorance as condition, volitional formations come to be; with volitional formations as condition, consciousness comes to be... Such is the origin of this whole mass of suffering. But with the remainderless fading away and cessation of ignorance comes cessation of volitional formations; with the cessation of volitional formations, cessation of consciousness... Such is the cessation of this whole mass of suffering."

This is the second sutta.

Let me explain the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination in simple, easy-to-understand language:

1. Ignorance:

This refers to our lack of knowledge or misunderstanding about the true nature of things. It's like wearing colored glasses that prevent us from seeing the world as it really is.

2. Volitional Formations:

Because of ignorance, we perform various actions and make decisions. These actions are like seeds that will bear fruit in the future.

3. Consciousness:

This is our awareness or mind-consciousness. It's like a mirror reflecting our thoughts and experiences.

4. Name-and-Form:

"Name" refers to the mental aspect, while "Form" refers to the physical aspect. This represents our entire mind-body complex, like the hardware and software of a computer.

The Four Great Elements refer to the four basic elements that constitute the material world:

1. Earth: Represents solid and stable matter.

2. Water: Represents fluidity and moisture.

3. Fire: Represents heat and change.

4. Wind (Air): Represents motion and flow.

Name-and-Form:

- Feeling, perception, volition, contact, and attention are called "Name," referring to mental and psychological activities. They represent different aspects of consciousness, involving sensations, imagination, thinking, touch, and intention.

- The four great elements and the form derived from them are called "Form," referring to the material aspect. Form represents all tangible things, including physical phenomena composed of the four elements.

5. Six Sense Bases:

These are our six senses: eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind. They're like six windows through which we perceive the outside world.

The Six Sense Bases:

1. Eye base: Objects contacted by the eye.

2. Ear base: Sounds contacted by the ear.

3. Nose base: Smells contacted by the nose.

4. Tongue base: Tastes contacted by the tongue.

5. Body base: Objects contacted by the body.

6. Mind base: Thoughts or concepts contacted by the mind.

6. Contact:

When our senses interact with the external world, "contact" occurs. It's like flipping a switch that connects the inner and outer worlds.

The Six Types of Contact:

Same as the six types of feeling, contact refers to the situations where different senses come into contact with external things:

1. Eye contact

2. Ear contact

3. Nose contact

4. Tongue contact

5. Body contact

6. Mind contact

7. Feeling:

Through "contact," we generate feelings, which can be pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral. This is like tasting food, experiencing sweet, bitter, or bland flavors.

The Six Types of Feeling:

1. Feeling born of eye-contact: Sensations produced when the eye contacts external objects.

2. Feeling born of ear-contact: Sensations produced when the ear contacts sounds.

3. Feeling born of nose-contact: Sensations produced when the nose contacts smells.

4. Feeling born of tongue-contact: Sensations produced when the tongue contacts tastes.

5. Feeling born of body-contact: Sensations produced when the body contacts external objects.

6. Feeling born of mind-contact: Sensations produced when the mind contacts thoughts or concepts.

8. Craving:

For pleasant feelings, we develop liking and desire. This is like salivating when seeing delicious food.

The Six Types of Craving:

1. Craving for forms: Attraction and desire for visual objects.

2. Craving for sounds: Attraction to music, language, and other auditory stimuli.

3. Craving for odors: Attraction to smells.

4. Craving for tastes: Desire for food and drink.

5. Craving for tactile sensations: Desire for physical touch and sensations.

6. Craving for mental phenomena: Desire for inner thoughts, including concepts, memories, fantasies, and all contents produced by mental activity. It can be extended to the pursuit of spiritual or intellectual wisdom.

9. Clinging:

"Craving" further develops into strong attachment and pursuit. This is like desperately trying to get food when hungry.

The Four Types of Clinging:

1. Clinging to sensual pleasures: Pursuit of and attachment to desires, wanting to obtain certain sensations or experiences.

2. Clinging to views: Attachment to opinions or perspectives, especially views about oneself or others.

3. Clinging to rules and vows: Attachment to certain rules or taboos, believing that following these rules will bring liberation or happiness.

4. Clinging to a doctrine of self: Attachment to self-expression or language, including identification with one's own expressions and reactions to others' words.

10. Existence:

Because of "clinging," we take action, planting seeds for future results. This is like preparing soil, seeds, and water, waiting for flowers to bloom and fruits to form.

The Three Types of Existence:

1. Sense-sphere existence: Refers to existence related to desires, usually involving human desires, greed, emotions, etc., related to the pursuit of material and sensory pleasures.

2. Form-sphere existence: Refers to material existence, including all tangible things like bodies, objects, etc., belonging to the material world.

3. Formless-sphere existence: Refers to non-material existence, usually related to spirit or consciousness, such as mind, thoughts, etc., belonging to the intangible world.

11. Birth:

The result of "existence" is the production of new life or new states. This is like a seed sprouting, beginning a new life.

12. Aging-and-Death:

Life inevitably faces aging and death. This is like the process of a plant growing from vigorous to eventually withering.

Summary:

The Twelve Links of Dependent Origination are like a circular chain, with each link connected to those before and after it. Ignorance leads to actions, actions influence consciousness, consciousness shapes mind-and-body, mind-and-body interacts with the world through senses, producing feelings, feelings evoke love and attachment, attachment leads to action, actions bring results, and results become new beginnings.

Understanding the Twelve Links can help us see the essence of life, recognizing how our actions and choices influence our future. By striving to eliminate ignorance, we can change this cycle and ultimately reach a state of liberation.

The Great Cycle: The River of Life

Imagine a woman named Mei, whose life is like a long, winding river.

1. Unknown (Ignorance): Before Mei is born, her existence is like a speck of dust floating in the universe.

2. Action (Volitional Formations): The meeting and union of Mei's parents, like the source of the river.

3. Consciousness: The fertilized egg forms, Mei's consciousness begins to sprout, like a water droplet in the river.

4. Name-and-Form: The embryo develops, Mei's body begins to take shape, like a small wave in the river.

5. Six Sense Bases: Around 5 months of pregnancy, Mei's sensory organs gradually form, like fish in the river opening their eyes.

6. Contact: Around 7 months of pregnancy, Mei can feel external touches, like the river feeling the warmth of sunlight.

7. Feeling: At birth (0 years old), Mei begins to experience pleasure and pain, like the river experiencing its first tide.

8. Craving: In early childhood (1-5 years old), Mei begins to develop preferences, like the river finding its own direction.

9. Clinging: In adolescence (6-18 years old), Mei starts pursuing what she wants, like the river breaking through rocks.

10. Existence: In young adulthood (19-40 years old), Mei strives to achieve her goals, like the river surging forward relentlessly.

11. Birth: In middle age (41-60 years old), Mei experiences life's ups and downs, like the river going through rapids and calm waters.

12. Aging-and-Death: In old age (61 years and above), Mei gradually ages and eventually passes away, like the river flowing into the sea.

The Small Cycle: The Four Seasons of Life

Now, let's look at the small cycles in Mei's life and how they reflect the Twelve Links:

1. Spring (Ignorance): Mei is curious about the world but doesn't understand its nature.

2. Sowing (Volitional Formations): She begins to learn and work, sowing seeds for the future.

3. Sprouting (Consciousness): Knowledge and experience gradually accumulate, consciousness continually grows.

4. Growth (Name-and-Form): Personal characteristics and abilities gradually emerge.

5. Flowering (Six Sense Bases): Various sensory experiences become rich and diverse.

6. Fruiting (Contact): Interactions and connections with the outside world occur.

7. Ripening (Feeling): Experiencing the sweet and bitter tastes of life.

8. Harvesting (Craving): Developing likes and attachments to people and things.

9. Storing (Clinging): Striving to obtain and retain loved objects.

10. Preparing (Existence): Making preparations for the next season.

11. Declining (Birth): Facing new challenges and changes.

12. Dormancy (Aging-and-Death): A temporary ending, gathering strength for a new beginning.

Small Cycles in Daily Life:

Imagine Mei stealing due to greed, this process also reflects the Twelve Links:

1. Ignorance: Not understanding the consequences of theft

2. Volitional Formations: Forming the idea of stealing

3. Consciousness: Becoming aware of wanting to obtain something

4. Name-and-Form: Identifying the object to steal

5. Six Sense Bases: Using eyes to see and hands to touch the target item

6. Contact: Coming into contact with the desired object

7. Feeling: Experiencing the pleasure of obtaining the item

8. Craving: Developing attachment to the obtained item

9. Clinging: Carrying out the act of theft

10. Existence: Possessing the stolen item

11. Birth: Facing the possibility of being discovered and punished

12. Aging-and-Death: Finally being caught and punished, ending this small cycle

Understanding the Combination of Great and Small Cycles:

The law of Twelve Links of Dependent Origination runs through both the great cycle of life and the small cycles of daily life. In the great cycle, it describes the entire process of a life from beginning to end; in small cycles, it explains the cause and effect relationships of our daily behaviors and experiences. Understanding this helps us realize that every action and choice will bring corresponding results, thus making us cherish life more, strive to eliminate ignorance, and pursue liberation.

This article is a detailed explanation of the law of dependent origination by the Buddha, which is one of the core teachings of Buddhism. Let's delve deeper into its wisdom:

1. Analysis of Dependent Origination:

The Buddha expounds on the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, demonstrating the causal relationships in the cycle of life. Starting from ignorance, through volitional formations, consciousness, name-and-form, six sense bases, contact, feeling, craving, clinging, existence, and birth, it ultimately leads to aging-and-death and other sufferings. This process reveals the nature of life and the root of suffering.

2. Detailed Explanation of Each Link:

The Buddha meticulously explains the meaning of each link, such as aging-and-death, birth, existence, clinging, craving, feeling, contact, six sense bases, name-and-form, consciousness, volitional formations, and ignorance. This thorough explanation helps us deeply understand the operating mechanism of life.

3. The Root of Suffering:

Through the analysis of dependent origination, the Buddha points out that the root of suffering lies in ignorance. Ignorance leads to our misconceptions about the world, which in turn produces various afflictions and pains.

4. The Path to Liberation:

The Buddha not only points out the source of suffering but also provides a method for liberation. By eliminating ignorance, the entire chain of suffering can be broken, ultimately leading to the cessation of suffering.

Deep Reflections:

1. The Interconnectedness of Life: The law of dependent origination reveals the interdependence of all phenomena in life. This inspires us to view life and the world from a holistic, systematic perspective, recognizing that every action and choice can have far-reaching effects.

2. The Importance of the Present Moment: Understanding dependent origination makes us aware that every thought and action in the present is shaping our future. This encourages us to cherish the present moment more and be cautious about every thought and action.

3. The Importance of Self-Awareness: Ignorance is seen as the root of suffering, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and wisdom. Through learning and introspection, we can gradually dispel ignorance and gain true freedom.

4. The Possibility of Liberation: The law of dependent origination not only explains the origin of suffering but also points out the possibility of liberation. This gives us hope, making us believe that through effort and practice, we can transcend suffering and achieve true liberation.

5. The Impermanence of Life: The description of aging-and-death vividly demonstrates the impermanent nature of life. This reminds us to cherish life while also helping us face life's changes with a peaceful mind.

6. Reflection on Desire and Attachment: The explanation of "clinging" and "craving" prompts us to reflect on our own desires and attachments. This inspires us to learn moderation and not be bound by desires.

Through a deep understanding of the law of dependent origination, we can gain insight into the essence of life, cultivate wisdom and compassion, and ultimately achieve true inner peace and freedom. This is not just a philosophical contemplation but a life practice, guiding us towards a more awakened and fulfilling life.

By studying and practicing these teachings, we can:

1. Develop a more holistic view of life and the world.

2. Cultivate mindfulness in our daily actions and thoughts.

3. Work on reducing our ignorance through continuous learning and self-reflection.

4. Approach our desires and attachments with more awareness and balance.

5. Face the impermanence of life with greater equanimity.

6. Strive for personal growth and spiritual development.

7. Cultivate compassion for ourselves and others, understanding the interconnected nature of all beings.

8. Make more conscious choices that lead to less suffering for ourselves and others.

9. Gradually work towards breaking the cycle of suffering and achieving true liberation.

Remember, the Buddha's teachings are not meant to be merely intellectual knowledge, but a practical guide for living. By applying these insights in our daily lives, we can gradually transform our understanding, actions, and ultimately, our entire way of being in the world.