Dependent Arising

The Buddhist Teaching Upon Which All Else Rests

The Buddhist concept of Dependent Arising is a foundational principle. It explains how phenomena come into being and exist interdependently. This teaching shows that nothing possesses inherent existence or an independent, self-sustaining essence. It is central to Buddhist philosophy and underpins the understanding of emptiness. Below, I’ll explain the logic behind Dependent Arising and how it proves the lack of inherent existence.

Why is This So Important?

Recognizing Dependent Arising is essential. Until humans realize and actualize this fundamental teaching, suffering will persist indefinitely. Understanding this concept can greatly reduce human suffering.

What is Dependent Arising?

Dependent Arising is the principle that all phenomena—whether physical objects, mental states, or events—arise and exist only in dependence on causes, conditions, and relationships. Nothing exists independently or in isolation. Instead, everything is interconnected. They arise due to a web of factors and cease when those factors are no longer present.

This principle is often summarized in the Buddha’s statement: “When this is, that is. From the arising of this, that arises. When this is not, that is not. From the cessation of this, that ceases.” (Saṃyutta Nikāya 12.61).

In essence, phenomena are contingent. Their existence depends on other phenomena, lacking an autonomous, self-contained essence.

Key Components of Dependent Arising

To understand how Dependent Arising negates inherent existence, let’s break it down into its core elements:

Causality

Phenomena arise from specific causes. For example, a seed grows into a plant due to conditions like water, soil, and sunlight.

Conditions

Beyond direct causes, phenomena depend on supporting conditions. The plant’s growth also relies on temperature, air, and the absence of destructive factors.

Relationality

Phenomena are defined by their relationships to other phenomena. A “table” is only a table because of its parts (wood, nails) and its function relative to human use.

Impermanence

Because phenomena depend on causes and conditions, they are transient—arising when conditions are met and ceasing when conditions change.

Logic Proving No Inherent Existence

The logic of Dependent Arising demonstrates that nothing has inherent existence (an independent, unchanging, self-existent nature) through the following reasoning:

1. Dependence on Causes and Conditions

If something existed inherently, it would be self-sufficient, unchanging, and independent of external factors. However, Dependent Arising shows that all phenomena rely on causes and conditions to exist.

Example: A table exists because of its parts (wood, screws), the carpenter’s labor, and the concept of “table” in human minds. If any of these conditions change (e.g., the wood rots or the concept shifts), the table ceases to be a table. Thus, the table lacks an inherent, standalone essence.

Implication: Anything that depends on causes and conditions cannot exist independently, negating the notion of inherent existence.

2. Relational Nature of Phenomena

Phenomena are defined by their relationships to other things, not by an intrinsic essence. For instance, “tall” only exists relative to “short,” and “cause” exists relative to “effect.”

Example: Consider a person’s identity. A “mother” is only a mother because of her relationship to a child. Without that relationship, the label and role cease to apply. Her existence as a “mother” is entirely relational, not inherent.

Implication: If phenomena are defined by relationships, they lack a fixed, independent nature. Their existence is contingent on other phenomena.

3. Impermanence and Change

Inherent existence would imply permanence. A self-existent entity wouldn’t rely on conditions that change. Yet, all phenomena are impermanent, arising and ceasing based on shifting conditions.

Example: A flame exists only as long as there’s fuel, oxygen, and heat. Remove any condition, and the flame disappears. The flame has no inherent existence because it’s a process, not a fixed entity.

Implication: Impermanence shows that phenomena are processes, not static entities with an enduring core.

4. Emptiness of Self-Nature

The Madhyamaka philosopher Nāgārjuna formalized this logic in his Mūlamadhyamakakārikā. He argued that all phenomena arise dependently, and therefore, they are empty of inherent existence (svabhāva). Emptiness doesn’t mean nothingness, but rather the absence of an independent, self-sustaining essence.

Nāgārjuna’s key argument: If something had inherent existence, it would not depend on anything else, nor would it change or cease. But since all phenomena arise, change, and cease due to conditions, they are empty of inherent existence.

Example: A car is not inherently a “car.” It’s an assembly of parts (engine, wheels), labeled as a car by convention. If disassembled, the “car” ceases to exist, proving its existence is dependent and empty of an inherent nature.

5. The Two Truths and Avoiding Extremes

Buddhist logic uses the Two Truths framework to clarify Dependent Arising:

Conventional Truth: Phenomena appear to exist and function in everyday life (e.g., tables, people, emotions).

Ultimate Truth: Upon analysis, these phenomena lack inherent existence because they depend on causes, conditions, and designations.

Dependent Arising avoids two extremes:

• Nihilism: It doesn’t deny the conventional existence of things, as phenomena arise and function interdependently.

• Eternalism: It refutes the idea of fixed, permanent essences by showing that everything is contingent and impermanent.

  
  

Implication: By demonstrating that phenomena exist only dependently, Dependent Arising proves they lack inherent existence while affirming their functional reality.

Practical Example: The Twelve Links of Dependent Origination

In Buddhist soteriology, Dependent Arising is often illustrated through the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination. These explain the cycle of suffering (samsāra):

1. Ignorance

2. Volitional Formations

3. Consciousness

4. Name and Form

5. Six Sense Bases

6. Contact

7. Feeling

8. Craving

9. Clinging

10. Becoming

11. Birth

12. Aging and Death

Each link depends on the previous one, forming a chain of causation. For example, craving depends on feeling, which depends on contact, and so on.

This shows that suffering (and existence itself) arises dependently, not inherently. By eliminating ignorance (the root), the chain collapses, leading to liberation (nirvāṇa).

Logic Applied: Even the self or consciousness, which might seem inherently existent, is a process dependent on prior conditions (e.g., ignorance, formations). Thus, the self lacks inherent existence.

Why This Matters

The realization that nothing has inherent existence is liberating in Buddhism because:

• It dismantles attachment to a fixed “self” or “things,” reducing suffering caused by clinging.

• It fosters compassion, as all beings are interconnected in the web of Dependent Arising.

• It aligns with the path to enlightenment by revealing the empty, interdependent nature of reality.

  
  

Addressing Potential Objections

Objection: If nothing has inherent existence, why do things appear solid and real?

Response: Phenomena appear due to causes, conditions, and mental designations (conventional truth). Their apparent solidity is a function of interdependence, not an inherent essence. This is why Buddhists emphasize direct insight through meditation to see beyond appearances.

Objection: Does emptiness mean nothing exists?

Response: Emptiness means phenomena lack independent existence, not that they don’t exist at all. They exist dependently, functioning in the conventional world.

Conclusion

The logic of Dependent Arising proves that nothing has inherent existence by showing that all phenomena:

• Depend on causes and conditions.

• Are defined relationally.

• Are impermanent and process-based.

• Are empty of a self-sustaining essence.

  
  

This negates the notion of independent, fixed entities while affirming the interdependent, functional reality of the world. By understanding this principle, one can see that phenomena, including the self, are like mirages. They appear real but lack an inherent core. This insight is both a philosophical conclusion and a transformative realization in Buddhist practice.

For a deeper exploration of Dependent Arising, please refer to helpful resources here.