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Buddhism: Beliefs and Teachings

The Dhamma and dependent origination

  • 3 things to know
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Overview

The Dhamma as one of the Three Jewels, conditionality and samsara, the twelve nidanas across three lifetimes, the Tibetan Wheel of Life and its hub, Dhammapada 35–36, and Theravada and Mahayana definitions.

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Key term

What are the twelve nidanas?

Key term

What does the word Dhamma mean for Buddhists?

Key term

Why is the Dhamma one of the Three Jewels?

Questions from this subtopic

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  1. 1

    What does the word Dhamma mean for Buddhists?

    Model answer

    Dhamma means the teaching of the Buddha. Dhamma also means the eternal law, the truth about how things really are.

  2. 2

    Why is the Dhamma one of the Three Jewels?

    Model answer

    The Three Jewels are the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha. Buddhists take refuge in the Dhamma because it shows the way to end suffering.

  3. 3

    What is dependent origination?

    Model answer

    Dependent origination (paticcasamuppada) is the teaching that everything arises from conditions. All things depend on other things and cease when their conditions cease.

  4. 4

    How did the Buddha summarise conditionality?

    Model answer

    The Buddha taught that when this exists, that comes to be, and with the arising of this, that arises. The Buddha also taught that when this ceases, that ceases.

  5. 5

    How does dependent origination explain samsara?

    Model answer

    Samsara is the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Dependent origination shows that ignorance and craving are the conditions that keep beings in it.

  6. 6

    What are the twelve nidanas?

    Model answer

    The twelve nidanas are the links in the chain of dependent origination. The links are ignorance, formations, consciousness, name-and-form, the six senses, contact and feeling. The chain continues with craving, clinging, becoming, birth, and ageing and death.

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