2013/05 – Causes and Conditions, Karma and Dharma

Conditionality is a fundamental principle found throughout the Buddha’s teachings. In Western philosophy, it is called Determinism. It means that every event happens because of some preceding event(s) and that nothing in human experience stands alone without this influence. Personal control of the events of life is an illusion. Casual examination of conditionality can leave us feeling discouraged, uncaring, helpless, and trapped by life events. We suffer. Deep understanding of conditionality leads to freedom and to the end of suffering. How can this be? The Buddhas gave a map for understanding conditionality called the Chain or Cycle of Dependent Origination. We will look at this map in a very pragmatic way, as a tool to understand and use in our practice. We will also see how every step on this map can be a doorway to awakening to inherent and complete freedom from suffering.



DATE: May 7, 14, 21, 28
TIME: 7:00-9:00 pm
TEACHER: Ann Barden
LEVEL: continuing
LOCATION: Insight Meditation Ann Arbor Meeting Room

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