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Paticcasamuppada
By Mahasi Sayadaw Gyi

Paticcasamuppada or the Doctrine of Dependent Origination is one of the most important doctrines in Buddhism and Lord Buddha had preached this Doctrine for many times.


The Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw had delivered this discourse at Fan Yin Hall of Mahasi Meditation Centre on eleven Sabbath days commencing from 8th Day of Nayone, 1324(Myanmar Era)(25th. June, 1962) and completing on 8th waning Day of Tawthalin (21st . September, 1962). These talks were tape-recorded, transcribed and submitted for final approval to Mahasi Sayadaw.

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The Wheel of Life depicting The twelve links of interdependent origination.

Dependent on ignorance (avijjā) mental formations arise. From mental formations (saṅkhārā), rebirth consciousness arises. Consciousness (viññāṇa) gives rise to mental and physical phenomena. From mental and physical phenomena (nāma rūpa), the spheres of the six senses arise. From the spheres of the six senses (saḷāyatana), contact arises. Contact (phassa) causes sensation. Sensation (vedanā) leads to craving. From craving (taṇhā), attachment results. Attachment (upādāna) produces becoming. From becoming (bhava) birth arises. Finally, birth (jāti) leads to decay (jarā), death (maraṇaṃ), grief (soka), lamentation (parideva), pain (dukkha), sorrow (domanassa), despair (upāyāsa).

Paṭiccasamuppādasutta, Saṁyutta Nikāya 12.1

Atha kho bhagavā satthā catunnaṃ rājūnaṃ paṭiggahita-patte ekato katvā ekapattaṃ akāsi.

So pana patto nacirasseva mahāsamudde patiṭṭhāsi. Tattha pana nāgānaṃ mahāsamārambho ahosi: “Ayaṃ amhākaṃ bhavissati, ayaṃ amhākaṃ bhavissatī” ti.

Te aññamaññaṃ ghātesuṃ. Tato pacchā “ayaṃ sammāsambuddhassa patto, na amhākaṃ yuttan” ti samaggā hutvā nivattiṃsu.

Then the Blessed One, having accepted the four bowls from the Four Great Kings, made them into one bowl.

That bowl, before long, came to rest in the great ocean. And there the nāgas held a great quarrel: “This will be ours, this will be ours!”

They fought with one another. But afterwards they thought: “This is the bowl of the Perfectly Enlightened One; it is not fitting for us,” and, becoming reconciled, they withdrew.

Jātaka vol. I, Nidānakathā, PTS edition, p. 70–72

Translation: Rhys Davids, Buddhist Birth Stories (1880), pp. 95–97

Dhammapada Verse 111
Khanu Kondannatthera Vatthu

Yo ca vassasatam jive
duppanno asamahito
ekaham jivitam seyyo
pannavantassa jhayino.

Verse 111: Better than a hundred years in the life of an ignorant person, who has no control over his senses, is a day in the life of a wise man who cultivates Tranquillity and Insight Development Practice.

The Story of Khanu-Kondanna

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (111) of this book, with reference to Khanu Kondanna.

Thera Kondanna, after taking a subject of meditation from the Buddha, went into the jungle to practise meditation and there attained arahatship. Coming back to pay homage to the Buddha, he stopped on the way because he was very tired. He sat on a large stone-slab, his mind fixed in jhana concentration. At that moment five hundred robbers after looting a large village came to the place where the thera was. Taking him for a tree stump they put their bundles of loot all over and around the body of the thera. When day broke they realized that what they took to be a tree stump was, in fact, a living being. Then again, they thought it was an ogre and ran away in fright.

The thera revealed to them that he was only a bhikkhu and not an ogre and told them not to get frightened. The robbers were awed by his words, and asked his pardon for having wronged him. Soon after wards, all the robbers requested the thera to admit them into the Order. From that time, Thera Kondanna came to be known as "Khanu Kondanna" (tree-stump Kondanna)

The thera accompanied by the new bhikkhus went to the Buddha and told him all that had happened. To them the Buddha said, "To live for a hundred years in ignorance, doing foolish things, is useless; now that you have seen the Truth and have become wise, your life of one day as a wise man is much more worthwhile."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
Verse 111: Better than a hundred years in the life of an ignorant person, who has no control over his senses, is a day in the life of a wise man who cultivates Tranquillity and Insight Development Practice.

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Dhammapada, beloved and favorite teachings of the Buddha channel:

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“There are four persons, ananda, worthy of a stupa. Who are the four? A Tathagata, a Fully Awakened Buddha; a Paccekabuddha; a disciple of the Tathagata who is an Arahant; and a universal monarch (Chakravartin).”

“And why, Ananda, is a stupa for the Tathagata worthy of a stupa? At the thought: ‘This is the stupa of the Tathagata, the Arahant, the Fully Awakened Buddha,’ the hearts of many people are inspired, and they gain in happiness and faith, leading to a good rebirth.”

“And likewise with regard to the other three: a Paccekabuddha, an Arahant disciple of the Tathagata, and a universal monarch. That is why, ananda, there are four persons worthy of a stupa.”

Digha Nikaya, Sutta 16 : Mahaparinibbana Sutta

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The Colour Illustrated Story of the Buddha
By Piyaratne Hewabattage

This is a book which tells a story. The story is unlike many others, because, although it has all the right ingredients, (kings, princesses, chariots and the like), this particular one is about a historical person who lived in India in the 6th century, B.C.

The Way of Life taught by the Buddha is followed by more than one fifth of the world population today and it is hoped that this book may promote interest in Buddhism as well as help to bring about under- standing between different cultures. It meets a long-felt need in the West for a book to be read by and to children about the Buddha's life and times.

The publishers would like to thank everyone who helped to make this book a fact, both friends here in England and those in Sri Lanka. We hope very much that this will be the first in a series of books and that our helpers will continue to give us their kind assistance in the future.

Stories are for children, but they are also for adults so we hope that this rather special one will be enjoyed by everyone who has the capacity and imagination which is so uniquely a privilege of children the whole world over.


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Dhammapada Verse 112
Sappadasatthera Vatthu

Yo ca vassasatam jive
kusito1 hinaviriyo
ekaham jivitam seyyo
viriyamarabhato dalham.

Verse 112: Better than a hundred years in the life of a person who is idle and inactive, is a day in the life of one who makes a zealous and strenuous effort (in Tranquillity and Insight Development Practice).

1. kusito: an idle person; according to the Commentary, an idle person is one who passes his time only in evil thoughts.

The Story of Thera Sappadasa

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (112) of this book, with reference to Thera Sappadasa.

Once a bhikkhu was not feeling happy with the life of a bhikkhu; at the same time he felt that it would be improper and humiliating for him to return to the life of a householder. So he thought it would be better to die. So thinking, on one occasion, he put his hand into a pot where there was a snake but the snake did not bite him. This was because in a past existence the snake was a slave and the bhikkhu was his master. Because of this incident the bhikkhu was known as Thera Sappadasa. On another occasion, Thera Sappadasa took a razor to cut his throat; but as he placed the razor on his throat he reflected on the purity of his morality practice throughout his life as a bhikkhu and his whole body was suffused with delightful satisfaction (piti) and bliss (sukha). Then detaching himself from piti, he directed his mind to the development of Insight Knowledge and soon attained arahatship, and he returned to the monastery.

On arrival at the monastery, other bhikkhus asked him where he had been and why he took the knife along with him. When he told them about his intention to take his life, they asked him why he did not do so. He answered, "I originally intended to cut my throat with this knife, but I have now cut off all moral defilements with the knife of Insight Knowledge." The bhikkhus did not believe him; so they went to the Buddha and asked. "Venerable Sir, this bhikkhu claims, that he has attained arahatship as he was putting the knife to his throat to kill himself. Is it possible to attain Arahatta Magga within such a short time?" To them the Buddha said, "Bhikkhus! Yes, it is possible; for one who is zealous and strenuous in the practice of Tranquillity and Insight Development, arahatship can be gained in an instant. As the bhikkhu walks in meditation, he can attain arahatship even before his raised foot touches the ground."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
Verse 112: Better than a hundred years in the life of a person who is idle and inactive, is a day in the life of one who makes a zealous and strenuous effort (in Tranquillity and Insight Development Practice).

Dhammapada, beloved and favorite teachings of the Buddha channel:

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Big Buddha Bangkok

Dhammapada Verse 113
Patacaratheri Vatthu

Yo ca vassasatam jive
apassam udayabbayam1
ekaham jivitam seyyo
passato udayabbayam.

Verse 113: Better than a hundred years in the life of a person who does not perceive the arising and the dissolving of the five aggregates (khandhas), is a day in the life of one who perceives the arising and dissolving of the five aggregates.

1. Udayabbayam: the arising and the dissolving of the five aggregates (khandhas). Udayabbayanana is the knowledge acquired through Insight Development Practice, indicating the impermanent characteristics of the five aggregates.

The Story of Theri Patacara

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (113) of this book, with reference to Patacara.

Patacara was the daughter of a rich man from Savatthi. She was very beautiful and was guarded very strictly by her parents. But one day, she eloped with a young male attendant of the family and went to live in a village, as a poor man's wife. In due course she became pregnant and as the time for confinement drew near, she asked permission from her husband to return to her parents in Savatthi, but her husband discouraged her. So, one day, while her husband was away, she set out for the home of her parents. Her husband followed her and caught up with her on the way and pleaded with her to return with him; but she refused. It so happened that as her time was drawing so near, she had to give birth to a son in one of the bushes. After the birth of her son she returned home with her husband.

Then, she was again with child and as the time for confinement drew nears taking her son with her, she again set out for the home of her parents in Savatthi. Her husband followed her and caught up with her on the way; but her time for delivery was coming on very fast and it was also raining hard. The husband looked for a suitable place for confinement and while he was clearing a little patch of land, he was bitten by a poisonous snake, and died instantaneously. Patacara waited for her husband, and while waiting for his return she gave birth to her second son. In the morning, she searched for her husband, but only found his dead body. Saying to herself that her husband died on account of her, she continued on her way to her parents.

Because it had rained incessantly the whole night, the river Aciravati was in spate; so it was not possible for her to cross the river carrying both her sons. Leaving the elder boy on this side of the river, she crossed the stream with her day-old son and left him on the other bank. She then came back for the elder boy. While she was still in the middle of the river, a large hawk hovered over the younger child taking it for a piece of meat. She shouted to frighten away the bird, but it was all in vain; the child was carried away by the hawk. Meanwhile, the elder boy heard his mother shouting from the middle of the stream and thought she was calling out to him to come to her. So he entered the stream to go to his mother, and was carried away by the strong current. Thus, Patacara lost her two sons as well as her husband.

So she wept and lamented loudly, "A son is carried away by a hawk, another son is carried away by the current, my husband is also dead, bitten by a poisonous snake!" Then, she saw a man from Savatthi and she tearfully asked after her parents. The man replied that due to a violent storm in Savatthi the previous night, the house of her parents had fallen down and that both her parents together with her three brothers, had died, and had been cremated on one funeral pyre. On hearing this tragic news, Patacara went stark mad. She did not even notice that her clothes had fallen off from her and that she was half-naked. She went about the streets, shouting out her woes.

While the Buddha was giving a discourse at the Jetavana monastery, he saw Patacara at a distance; so he willed that she should come to the congregation. The crowd seeing her coming tried to stop her, saying "Don't let the mad woman come in." But the Buddha told them not to prevent her coming in. When Patacara was close enough to hear him, he told her to be careful and to keep calm. Then, she realized that she did not have her skirt on and shamefacedly sat down. Someone gave her a piece of cloth and she wrapped herself up in it. She then told the Buddha how she had lost her sons, her husband, her brothers and her parents.

The Buddha said to her, "Patacara, have no fear; you have now come to one who can protect you and guide you. Throughout this round of existences (samsara), the amount of tears you have shed on account of the death of your sons, husbands, parents and brothers is voluminous; it is even more than the waters of the four oceans." Thus the Buddha expounded to her the Anamatagga Sutta, which dealt with countless existences, and she felt relieved. Then, the Buddha added that one should not think too much about those who were gone, but that one should purify oneself and strive to realize Nibbana. On hearing this exhortation from the Buddha, Patacara attained Sotapatti Fruition.

Then, Patacara became a bhikkhuni. One day, she was cleaning her feet with water from a water-pot. As she poured the water for the first time, it flowed only a short distance and disappeared; then she poured for the second time and the water went a little farther, but the water she poured for the third time went the farthest. As she looked at the flow and the disappearance of water poured cut successively for three times, she came to perceive clearly the three stages in the life of beings. The Buddha seeing her through supernormal power from the Jetavana monastery sent forth his radiance and appeared to her in person. He then said to her, "Patacara, you are now on the right track, and you now have the true perception of the aggregates (khandhas). One who does not perceive the impermanence, unsatisfactoriness and insubstantiality of the aggregates is useless, even if he were to live for a hundred years.

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
Verse 113: Better than a hundred years in the life of a person who does not perceive the arising and the dissolving of the five aggregates (khandhas), is a day in the life of one who perceives the arising and dissolving of the five aggregates.

At the end of the discourse, Patacara attained arahatship.

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