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The Sakya Buddha’s liberating
insights
The Sakya Buddha’s two
fundamental insights that became the necessary conditions for (i.e. that
determined) his understanding of the cause of suffering and of the means to
its elimination were:
“All
that is subject to arising is subject to cessation.” Moreover:
“A
thing arises because of conditions; it ceases when the conditions for its
arising cease!” A thing (for instance, a
person like you and me) emerges as transient phenomenon from causes (or
conditions). In simpler words, a thing* happens as a passing effect (i.e. as a fading
event), not as a (1st, hence permanent) fixed cause. Because an
effect derives from causes, it is dependent (i.e. in bondage). Suffering (Pali: dukkha:
sorrow, distress, ill etc.,.) happens not because effects/things are
dependent and transient as such, but from clinging (i.e. being attached or
addicted) to that which is transient and can’t be owned. In short, if I
attach to something I don’t own and can’t hold on to, ‘like a ship in the
night’, I’m going to get hurt. Liberation, joy and peace
(read: nirvana) are attained when one ceases clinging to that which one
doesn’t own and can’t hold on to. |