The Twelvefold Wheel of Causality and Conditions, or
Dependence Upon Origination

The Twelve-fold Wheel of Causality & Conditions, or Dependence on Origination:

The teaching about the origination of suffering explains the cycle of existence that holds us in the realm of mortal self-existence that is Life & Death (Samsara) and the Threefold Realm.

It was elaborated from the threefold cycle of karma, suffering & emotional distress into the wheel of the twelve aspects that describe the ignorant craving that is inherent in self-existence.

The threefold cycle is:

• Klesas (emotional conditions) create Karmas (improper causes of spiritual destiny)
• Karmas (improper causes of spiritual destiny) create Duhkhas (retributions of suffering)
• Duhkhas (retributions of suffering) create Klesas (emotional conditions)

It begins with ignorance (the mother) and acts of will (the father), the two aspects that have intercourse and feed the cycles of life & death (Samsara):

• The Cause of the Past: #1 Ignorance #2 Acts of Will (which are predisposed to ignorance)
• The Effect of the Present: #3 Consciousness #4 Name-Form (Mind-Matter) Duality #5 The Six Senses #6 Contact #7 Sensory Feelings
• The Cause of the Future: #8 Craving #9 Attachment #10 Attainment of (Self) Existence
• The Effect of the Future: #11 Birth #12 Old Age & Death

The Great Calm-Observation says:

“Without enlightenment, there is the rising up of sensory desire (& the other klesas).

1. In being without enlightenment, there is ignorance.
2. The rising up of sensory desire is an act of will (predisposed to ignorance).
3. The consciousness of sensory desire combines the other four aggregates of self (the body, the senses, thoughts, and acts of will).
4. Their continuity constitutes the illusion of a temporary self which raises up the duality of name and form (mind and matter)
5. The physical body stirs, and there are the six entries (sense faculties).
6. The six sense faculties are connected to the six sensations, and there is contact.
7. In accepting and following these sensations, there are feelings.
8. Upon rejoicing in and wishing for these feelings, there is craving.
9. Cravings tie one up in attachments.
10. In creating these deeds (karmas) there are attainments of (self) existence.
11. The aggregates of self that rise up in the future are births.
12. With the aggregates of self being ripened, there is old age. With them being discarded, there is death.

These twelve constitute the wheel of interrelated cause and effect.”

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