12 Link Chain of Dependent Origination

Dependent Origination
(Dvādaśa-Astanga) 因緣

arising from conditions
從緣生
vanishing from conditions
從緣滅
If I exist, everything exists
我有便有
If I ceases to exist, everything also ceases to exist
我無便無


十二緣起 The Twelve Links In The Chain Of Existence
(Skt: Dvādaśanga Pratītyasamutpāda; the Twelve Nidānas)

While he was examining that which gives rise to human disquietude, Śākyamuni Buddha discovered a continuum of twelve phases of conditioning in a regular order. These twelve links in the chain of conditioned existence are.

無明 Ignorance (skt: avidyā) ignorance, or delusion, which is sometimes represented as a blind person. rebirth consciousness: ignorance, as inherited passion from the beginning-less past

行 Mental Formations (skt: samskāra) action-intentions, activity, conception and dispositions, which is sometimes represented as a potter at work, or man gathering fruit. rebirth consciousness: karma, good and evil, of past lives

識 Consciousness (skt: vijñāna) consciousness, which is sometimes represented as a restless monkey. rebirth consciousness: conception as a form of perception

名色 Name and Form (skt: nāmarūpa) name and form, which is sometimes represented as a boat. rebirth consciousness: nāmarūpa, or body and mind evolving (in the womb)

六處 The Six Sense Realms (skt: sadāyatana) the six sense organs; eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind, which is sometimes represented as a house. rebirth consciousness: the six organs on the verge of birth


觸 Touch (skt: sparśa) contact or touch, which is sometimes represented as a man and woman sitting together. rebirth consciousness: childhood whose intelligence is limited to sparśa, contact or touch
受 Sensation (skt: vedanā) sensation and feeling, which is sometimes represented as a man pierced by an arrow. rebirth consciousness: receptivity or budding intelligence and discrimination from 6 or 7 years

愛 Desire (skt: trsnā) thirst, desire and craving, which is sometimes represented as a man drinking wine. Sensual pleasures and the desire for existence or non-existence as in the case of the atman and the anatman. rebirth consciousness: thirst, desire, or love, age of puberty

取 Clinging (skt: upādāna) laying hold of, grasping, which is sometimes represented as a couple in union. The pull of sense objects which contain all meta-narratives such as God, Christ-consciousness, Buddha-nature, ceremony, rituals and permanence. rebirth consciousness: the urge of sensuous existence

有 Existence (skt: bhava) being, existing and becoming, which is sometimes represented as existence through childbirth. rebirth consciousness: existence through childbirth

生 Birth (skt: jāti) birth, which is sometimes represented as a man carrying a corpse. rebirth consciousness: birth, a man carrying a corpse

12. 老死 Old Age, Suffering and Death (skt: jarāmaraõa) old age and death, (impermanence), which is sometimes represented as an old woman leaning on a stick. rebirth consciousness: old age and death

In this order, the prior situation is the condition for the arising of the next situation. Also, in the same order, if the prior condition is extinguished, the next condition is extinguished. These twelve links are also represented in a chart, at the center of which are the serpent (anger), boar (ignorance, or stupidity), and dove (lust) representing the fundamental desires. Each catches the other by the tail, typifying the train of desire and producing the wheel of samsara.