Loss Of Individuality | Dependent Origination

Rediscovering Our Authentic Selves with the Twelve Nidanas of Dependent Origination

Lets use the example of the loss of individuality to illustrate the Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination.
1. Ignorance (avijja): The person lacks understanding of the true nature of reality, including the nonexistence of inherent self or soul.
2. Mental formations (sankhara): Due to ignorance, the person forms the concept of an independent self, leading them to cling to their personal identity.
3. Consciousness (viññana): The persons consciousness is conditioned by these mental formations, creating a sense of individual self, separate from others.
4. Name and form (nama-rupa): The persons body and mind manifest as a distinct individual identity.
5. The six sense bases (salayatana): The persons sense organs interact with the external world, giving rise to a sense of self as distinct from other phenomena.
6. Contact (phassa): The person encounters experiences that reinforce their sense of self, such as praise or criticism of their individual identity.
7. Feeling (vedana): The person experiences pleasant or unpleasant feelings in relation to the reinforcement or damage to their self-concept.
8. Craving (tanha): The person desires to maintain and reinforce their sense of individual self and identity in response to the pleasant feelings and aversion to the unpleasant feelings.
9. Clinging (upadana): The persons attachment to their sense of self intensifies, reinforcing their clinging to their individual identity.
10. Becoming (bhava): This clinging to individual identity reinforces the persons habitual patterns of behavior and karmic tendencies, perpetuating the cycle of reinforcing their self-concept.
11. Birth (jati): The persons individual identity manifests as a real and distinct entity, reinforcing their attachment to this identity.
12. Old age and death (jara-marana): Unaddressed clinging to individual identity can lead to physical, mental, and emotional suffering and perpetuate negative consequences in future situations or even future lives.
In this example, we can see how the Twelve Nidanas apply to the arising and perpetuation of the illusion of individuality. By understanding the dependent origination of this concept and recognizing the interdependence of the Twelve Links, a person can cultivate mindfulness and work towards breaking the cycle of attachment to self-identity, ultimately leading to greater peace and freedom from suffering.

How to break cycle at each point:

Certainly, here are ways to break the cycle at each point based on the example of loss of individuality:

1. Ignorance (avijja): Break the cycle by cultivating wisdom and insight. By studying the teachings of dependent origination and the nature of reality, one can begin to dismantle the delusion of inherent self or soul.

2. Mental formations (sankhara): Break the cycle by cultivating mindfulness and ethical conduct. As one becomes more mindful of their habitual patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior, and engage in virtuous actions, it becomes easier to weaken their attachment to the concept of individual identity.

3. Consciousness (viññana): Break the cycle by recognizing the interdependent nature of consciousness. By understanding that consciousness arises and ceases due to specific causes and conditions, it is possible to weaken the sense of individual self based on the consciousness.

4. Name and form (nama-rupa): Break the cycle by recognizing the impermanence of body and mind. By understanding that the body and mind are constantly changing and subject to decay, it becomes easier to weaken the attachment to individual identity.

5. The six sense bases (salayatana): Break the cycle by practicing sensory restraint. By practicing restraint of the senses, it is possible to weaken the attachment to sensory experiences that reinforce the sense of individual self.

6. Contact (phassa): Break the cycle by cultivating mindfulness of contact. By being mindful of the interaction between the sense bases and their respective objects, it is possible to weaken the potential for sensory experiences that reinforce the sense of self.

7. Feeling (vedana): Break the cycle by cultivating equanimity. By recognizing that pleasant and unpleasant feelings are impermanent and unsatisfactory, it is possible to weaken the potential for craving and attachment to these feelings.

8. Craving (tanha): Break the cycle by cultivating non-attachment. By practicing meditative techniques like mindfulness and developing wisdom, it becomes easier to recognize the impermanence and unsatisfactoriness of cravings and weaken their hold on individual identity.

9. Clinging (upadana): Break the cycle by cultivating non-grasping. By recognizing the impermanence of all things, including the sense of individuality, it is possible to loosen the grip of clinging and reduce attachment to a separate sense of self.

10. Becoming (bhava): Break the cycle by cultivating wholesome karma. By engaging in virtuous actions and developing a sense of altruism, it becomes easier to develop positive karmic tendencies and weaken unwholesome patterns of behavior and thought that reinforce individual identity.

11. Birth (jati): Break the cycle by recognizing the nature of emptiness. By understanding the nature of emptiness and the non-existence of inherent self or soul, it is possible to weaken the attachment to the individual identity.

12. Old age and death (jara-marana): Break the cycle by cultivating awareness of impermanence. By recognizing the impermanence of all phenomena, including the body and mind, it becomes easier to embrace the natural course of existence and move beyond suffering.

In summary, breaking the cycle of dependent origination requires a combination of mindfulness, ethical conduct, wisdom, and insight. By cultivating these qualities, it is possible to dismantle the grip of individual identity and move beyond the cycle of suffering.

Conclusion

The interdependence of the Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination provides essential insights into the nature of reality, including the illusion of individuality. By recognizing the dependent origination of identity, it is possible to cultivate mindfulness, wisdom, and ethical conduct, which can break the cycle of attachment and suffering. Ultimately, this can lead to greater peace, freedom, and a sense of interconnectedness with all phenomena. Through the cultivation of mindfulness, ethical conduct, wisdom, and insight, one can ultimately move beyond the cycle of suffering and embrace the natural course of existence.

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