Cause And Effect

Terms

Sanskrit : Pratītyasamutpāda (प्रतीत्यसमुत्पाद)

Pali : Paṭiccasamuppāda

Etymology

The Sanskrit term Pratītyasamutpāda means :

— to depend on ;

— to arise in relation ;

— to be born from conditions.

It is often translated as :

Dependent Origination

or

Conditioned Production.

The corresponding Pali term is :

Paṭiccasamuppāda.

Translations in the main languages of Buddhism

Sanskrit : Pratītyasamutpāda

Pali : Paṭiccasamuppāda

Chinese : 緣起 (Yuánqǐ)

Tibetan : རྟེན་འབྲེལ་ (Tendrel)

Japanese : 縁起 (Engi)

Korean : 연기 (Yeongi)

Vietnamese : Duyên khởi

Thai : ปฏิจจสมุปบาท (Paticcasamuppat)

English : Dependent Origination

French : Dependent Origination • Conditioned Causality

Definition

Causality is one of the Buddha's most profound teachings.

Nothing exists alone.

Nothing arises without cause.

Nothing remains independent.

Every phenomenon arises due to causes and conditions.

When these causes disappear, the phenomenon transforms or disappears as well.

The Fundamental Formula

The Buddha summarized this teaching with a famous phrase :

« This being, that becomes.This arising, that arises.This ceasing, that ceases. »

This formula expresses the universal interdependence of all phenomena.

A Worldview

Buddhist causality does not describe a universe governed by chance.

It shows that :

— our thoughts influence our actions ;

— our actions influence our life ;

— our choices influence others ;

— every event depends on multiple conditions.

We are constantly connected to the world around us.

The Example of the Flower

A flower does not exist alone.

It depends on :

— the earth ;

— water ;

— the sun ;

— air ;

— time ;

— thousands of invisible conditions.

The flower already contains the whole world.

According to Buddhism, the same is true for every living being.

The Link with Karma

Karma represents actions.

Causality explains how the consequences of these actions arise.

Karma is therefore a particular expression of the broader law of causality.

See also :

009_KARMA

The Link with Enlightenment

The Buddha discovers that suffering itself has causes.

Since these causes exist, they can be transformed.

Causality makes possible :

— transformation ;

— healing ;

— Enlightenment ;

— liberation.

Without causality, no change would be possible.

Understanding According to Traditions

THERAVĀDA

Conditioned production explains the cycle of rebirths and the arising of suffering.

MAHĀYĀNA

Interdependence becomes the basis for understanding emptiness.

VAJRAYĀNA

Interdependence reveals the profound unity of all phenomena.

Associated Images and Symbols

THE SEED

Cause and consequence.

THE TREE

Progressive development of conditions.

THE NETWORK

Interconnection of living things.

THE FLOWER

Visible manifestation of countless invisible causes.

Associated Concepts

006_DUKKHA

007_ANICCA

008_ANATTA

009_KARMA

010_SAMSARA

016FIVEAGGREGATES

018WHEELOFTHEEXISTENCE

051_VACUITE

Quote

« He who sees Dependent Origination sees the Dharma.He who sees the Dharma sees the Buddha. »

— Majjhima Nikāya

Buddhachannel — A Simple Practice

Today, choose an event from your life.

A meeting.

A success.

A difficulty.

Then ask yourself :

« What causes and conditions made this possible? »

By observing carefully, you will often discover a network of relationships much broader than you imagined.

Understanding causality is learning to see the invisible links that unite all things.

Keywords

Causality • Dependent Origination • Pratītyasamutpāda • Paṭiccasamuppāda • Interdependence • Karma • Conditions • Dharma • Enlightenment • Buddhism

Buddhachannel Multilingual Buddhist Encyclopedia

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