Buddhism by the Numbers

Twelve Links in the Chain of Interdependent Co-Arising

1. Ignorance
2. Volitional action
3. Consciousness
4. Mind/Body
5. Six sense organs (Eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, mind)
6. Contact
7. Feeling
8. Craving
9. Grasping/attachment
10. Coming to be, being, becoming
11. Birth
12. Old age (decay) and death

Each link contains the other links. All teachings of Buddhism are based on interdependent co-arising. If a teaching is not in accord with interdependent co-arising it is not the teaching of the Buddha. Buddha taught that everything is both cause and effect. Interdependent co-arising goes beyond our concepts of time and space. The one contains all.

The presence of light means the absence of dark. The presence of day means the absence of night. The presence of ignorance means the absence of understanding. The Buddha said, “When ignorance comes to an end, understanding arises.”

Based on the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh