10.06.2017 Views

The Bhikṣuṇī Maṇimēkhalai

An English translation of one of the five great Tamil classics, a story of Buddhist virtues, magical powers and philosophy; along with a detailed study of the text.

An English translation of one of the five great Tamil classics, a story of Buddhist virtues, magical powers and philosophy; along with a detailed study of the text.

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

295 - Noble Truths and the Twelve Conditions<br />

(11) Birth (Tōṟṟam) consists in the result of deeds leading to the<br />

conscious taking of birth in one or other of the six forms of birth in<br />

the inevitable chain of cause and effect.<br />

(12) Disease (Piṇi) consists in the suffering of the body by a change<br />

from its natural condition in consequence of the result of deeds. Old<br />

age (Mūppu) consists in the loosening of the body as one draws nearer<br />

and nearer to the end. Death (Śākkāḍu) ultimately consists in the<br />

human body, composed of life and body, disappearing as the setting<br />

sun.<br />

From ignorance arises action; from action springs consciousness;<br />

from consciousness comes ideas of name and form; from name and<br />

form spring the organs of sense; through organs of sense contact<br />

becomes possible; contact results in sensation or experience;<br />

experience produces desire; from desire springs attachment; from<br />

attachment comes into existence collection of deeds; as a result of this<br />

collection of deeds arise other various forms of birth; birth inevitably<br />

brings along with it age, disease and death, and the consequent<br />

anxiety and the feeling of incapacity to get rid of it. This<br />

never-ending suffering is the ultimate result.<br />

In such a never-ending circle of experience, when ignorance ceases,<br />

action will cease; with action consciousness will cease; with<br />

consciousness notions of name and form will cease; with the cessation<br />

of name and form, organs of sense will cease; with the cessation of the<br />

organs of sense, contact will cease; contact ceasing, sensation or<br />

experience will cease; with sensation or experience desire will cease;<br />

desire ceasing to exist, there will be [227] no attachment; without<br />

attachment, there is no accumulation of deeds; without the<br />

accumulated mass of deeds, there will be no becoming; with the<br />

cessation of becoming, there will be no birth, no disease, no age, no

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!