Download The Human Condition

The Human Condition
Samsara /
Dependent Origination
Samsara
• Buddhists have taken on the Hindu law of
samsara, and changed it slightly
• It still means the cycle of life, death, and rebirth
• However, in the Hindu system rebirth is
reincarnation. Your soul (atman) is reborn.
• In Buddhism, there is no reincarnation as there
is no soul to be reborn.
• Rebirth in Buddhism is more like a transfer of
energy, sometimes energy that carries with it a
memory (see Tibetan Buddhist idea of Tulkus /
Dalai Lama etc)
Introduction to kamma
• The energy that is passed on in Buddhist rebirth
is kammic energy.
• Kamma is the NATURAL law of cause and
effect. You accumulate positive or negative
effects throughout your life, and this affects your
‘rebirth’
• Your kammic energy at the end of your life
‘ignites’ the next one.
• This is like transfer of momentum in pool balls.
One ball moves another, but nothing of the first
ball is attached to the second.
Dependent Origination
• According to Buddhism, everything that exists
does so because of what has gone before
(cause and effect)
• Everything depends on other thing for their
existence
• Dependent Origination was a way for the
Buddha to teach his followers that they are
‘agents of their own fortune’ – just because
you are here because of what has gone before
does NOT mean you are not in control.
• You are here because of previous events and
choices, but you always have the power to
choose the next step. You are always in
control of where you are going!
Wheel of Life
• Symbolic
representation of
dependent origination
(what life is really like)
• Three Poisons in centre
• 6 realms of rebirth are
the ‘slices’
• 12 nidanas / stages of
life are the sections
round the edge
• The Buddha pointing to
the moon represents
the possibility of
freedom / Nibbana
• Yama is the Lord of
Death – in control of
samsara.
Quick Tasks
1. Briefly explain samsara
2. Briefly explain the law of kamma.
3. What does the Buddha use to explain how
you are in control of your life?