Dependent Arising

Pratityasamutpada, also called "dependent arising, or dependent origination", is the Buddhist theory to explain the nature and relations of being, becoming, existence and ultimate reality. Buddhism asserts that there is nothing independent, except the state of nirvana.[155] All physical and mental states depend on and arise from other pre-existing states, and in turn from them arise other dependent states while they cease.[156]

The 'dependent arisings' have a causal conditioning, and thus Pratityasamutpada is the Buddhist belief that causality is the basis of ontology, not a creator God nor the ontological Vedic concept called universal Self (Brahman) nor any other 'transcendent creative principle'. However, the Buddhist thought does not understand causality in terms of Newtonian mechanics, rather it understands it as conditioned arising.[159][160] In Buddhism, dependent arising is referring to conditions created by a plurality of causes that necessarily co-originate a phenomenon within and across lifetimes, such as karma in one life creating conditions that lead to rebirth in one of the realms of existence for another lifetime.[161][162][163]

Buddhism applies the dependent arising theory to explain origination of endless cycles of dukkha and rebirth, through its Twelve Nidanas or "twelve links" doctrine. It states that because Avidya (ignorance) exists Sa?skaras (karmic formations) exists, because Sa?skaras exists therefore Vijñana (consciousness) exists, and in a similar manner it links Namarupa (sentient body), ?a?ayatana (six senses), Sparsa (sensory stimulation), Vedana (feeling), Ta?ha (craving), Upadana (grasping), Bhava (becoming), Jati (birth), and Jaramara?a (old age, death, sorrow, pain).[164][165]

By breaking the circuitous links of the Twelve Nidanas, Buddhism asserts that liberation from these endless cycles of rebirth and dukkha can be attained.[166