The Law of the Twelve Causes
This law, also called The Doctrine of the Twelve-Link
Chain of Dependent Origination,
teaches that all phenomena in this world constantly change, appearing and
disappearing, and that all changes are based on an established rule. Though all
things change, this rule is immutable. We know it as the “Law of the Twelve Causes” because we divide the rule into twelve
stages. However, it is easier for us to understanding this law by limiting it
to man than by trying to apply it at once to all phenomena.
The Buddha perched the “Law of the Twelve Causes” in detail to Ananda in the Dirghagama
Sutra. This law rules the growth of the human body as well as the changes in
people's mind. The former is called the “outer causation” and the latter the
“inner causation”. It explains the process through which a human being is born,
grows, ages, and dies in light of the three temporal states of existence, the
past, present, and future. And in connection with this, it shows how people's
minds change and the fundamental method of purifying and of removing illusions
from them.
The twelve links or stages are (1) Ignorance, (2) Actions, (3) Consciousness, (4) Name
and Form, (5) the Six Entrances
(the five sense organs and the mind, (6)
Contact, (7) Sensation, (8) Desire, (9) Clinging, l0) Existence,
(11) Birth, and (12) Old Age and Death. First we will explain the growth and
changes of the human body, the outer causation.
The first link of the Twelve Causes is (1) Ignorance. Prior to our conception,
nothing is known or sensed. When the
ignorant spirit is conceived in the mother’s womb through the Action of sexual intercourse, Consciousness
is produced. Consciousness means
“something living”. Here something
like a human being (a fetus) is produced, although it is still incomplete. As the incomplete consciousness is gradually
taking shape, it grows into name and form (mental functions and matter). “Name” means an immaterial being,
spirit or soul, and “Form” indicates
a material being, that is, the human body.
“Name and Form” mean the human body with a soul.
As “Name and Form”
(mind and body) grow, they develop the “Six
Entrance” such as the five sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body)
and the mind by which we perceive the existence of things. At this time, we are
still in the mother's womb and incomplete. This stage is called the “Six Entrances” because the functions
of our minds and bodies are on the point of dividing into six different senses.
We are born into this world at the stage of the Six Entrances. When we grow to the age
of two or three, the Six Entrances
are completed and sensibility is developed. That is, we become able to discern
shapes, colors, sounds, smells, tastes, physical sensations, and so on. This
stage is called “Contact.”
When this sensibility is further developed, feelings of
like and dislike naturally develop. This state is called “Sensation.” When such feelings appear, “Desire” for things arises spontaneously. The Desire referred to
here means attachment, whose meaning is a little different for that of love as
this word is commonly used. In other
words, this is a state of mind that has preferences and that clings to what it
likes. When we have Desire for something, we try to hold on
to it. (Conversely, we try to avoid
what we consider unpleasant or undesirable.)
This is called “Clinging.”
“Clinging” leads to various feelings, ideas, and assertions. This is called “Existence”, which
means the discriminating mind. Due to this discriminating mind, opposition and struggle occur
among people, and human life as suffering unfolds. Such human life is called “Birth”. Leading such a life of suffering. “Old Age” comes before one knows it,
and finally one encounters “Death”.
In short, the “Law
of the Twelve Causes” teaches that you are born as an ordinary human
being because of your ignorance in a
previous life. The Law also teaches that if you eradicate you ignorance in the
present world, the essential form of your life as it was meant to be will be
revealed in his future life. Here we should not limit the meaning of “future
life” to life when we are reborn after death but should regard it rather as the
life before us in the future. If we abandon (fundamental) ignorance and set our
minds in the direction of the Law, a bright and serene future life will open up
before us.
1.
Ignorance Fundamental cause of suffering.
2. Actions Deed (KARMA) Based on Ignorance.
3. Consciousness Moment of
conception/ memory.
4. Name and Form Growth of
mind and physical body in the womb.
5. Six entrances Birth after growth of sense organs and the mind.
6. Contact Development of distinguish function/contact with external
objects.
7. Sensibility (Sensation) Function
of sensibility/feelings.
8. Desire of affection Psychological
growth of youth/desire for pleasure/cravings.
9. Clinging Psychological growth of youth/grasping what one desires.
10. Existence The discriminating mind with its various feelings, ideas
and assertions that arise from clinging.
11. Birth of Life Birth of
child or appearance of matter in life/rebirth.
12. Old age and
death