A Discourse on Dependent Origination: 1

By Venerable Mahāsī Sayādaw of Burma

Translated by 

U Aye Maung

Edited by 

Bhikkhu Pesala

(Sharing to lay followers and beginners)

Importance of the Doctrine

THE doctrine of Paṭiccasamuppāda or Dependent Origination is central to Buddhism. While the Bodhisatta was reflecting deeply on the nature of existence, he realised the truth about Dependent Origination, and attained enlightenment. Before he became the Buddha in his final existence, he pondered aging and death — as did every other Bodhisatta. For it was only after he had seen the misery of aging, disease, and death that he renounced the world in search of the deathless. 

All living beings want to avoid these misfortunes but they cannot escape. 

These misfortunes pursue them relentlessly from one existence to the next in a perpetual process of birth, aging, and death. For example, the fate of chickens and ducks is terrible. 

Some are eaten while still in the eggs. 

Even if they hatch, they live for just a few weeks, and are killed as soon as they put on sufficient weight. They are born only to be killed for human consumption. If it is the fate of living beings to be repeatedly killed like this, then it is a very gloomy and frightful prospect. Nevertheless, chickens and ducks seem content with their lot in life. They apparently enjoy life — quacking, crowing, eating, and fighting with one another. They may think that they have plenty of time to enjoy life, though in fact they may live for just a few days or months. 

The span of human life is not very long either. For someone in their fifties or sixties their youth may seem as recent as yesterday. Sixty or seventy years on earth is a day in the life of a deva. The life of a deva is also very brief in the eyes of a Brahmā, who may live for the duration of the world system. However, even the lifespan of a Brahmā, who outlives hundreds of worlds, is insignificant compared to eternity. Celestial beings, too, eventually have to die. 

Although they are not subject to disease and marked senility, age tells on them imperceptibly in due course. 

A Discourse on Dependent Origination By Venerable Mahāsī Sayādaw, Of Burma, Translated by U Aye Maung, Edited by Bhikkhu Pesala, published in March 1982.