Dependent arising

• Tendency to do the action again as a result of karma
• Bodies sentient beings take in general and having specific conditions
• Collective karma and individual karma
• Role of biological, physical and karmic systems
• Explanation of Wheel of Life
• Impermanence, three poisons
• Fortunate and unfortunate rebirths
• Different classes of beings
• Twelve links of dependent origination
• Causal dependence in forward and backward sequence

Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature 41: Dependent Arising (download)

Contemplation points

1. Consider: Desire arises in our mind first, then when our desires are frustrated (when we can’t get what we want), the range of anger emotions come. Spend some time with this and make some examples from your own experience.
2. Both natural and karmic laws can affect what we experience. Make some examples, differentiating between the laws at play.
3. It’s important to figure out what causes we create. What causes do we want to create as individuals and as society? What causes do you need to create for where you want to be in 30 years?
4. Consider: Things disintegrate every moment of life. Do you struggle to accept this view (either intellectually or in practice) and why?
5. Nothing exists under its own power. Things change moment by moment. With an awareness of this, consider how you spend your time. Are you creating virtue or non-virtue?