RELIGST 3UU3 Chapter 15: ASSIGNED READING - WEEK 4 - THE INTRODUCTION OF BUDDHISM
15 Feb 2017
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Chapter 15 (223-237) | the introduction of buddhism. Threefold characterization of the world (p. 224: transient, sorrowful, soulless, have to understand this or will always crave for permanence. All things are composite, transient: composition of all aggregates change with time, no eternal self / soul, no abiding individuality, liable to sorrow. Individual is made up of a combination of these 5 components: never the same from one moment to the next. Individual"s whole being in constant state of flux. Chain of causation / dependent origination (p 224) The process by which life continues and one thing leads to another. Ignorance - the root cause of the cycle of rebirth is ignorance: fundamental illusion that individuality and permanence exist. Then attempts to appropriate things to itself: sexually craving and intercourse are causes of the next links in the chain. Acts, words, or thoughts leave traces on the five constituents: alters character accordingly.
