This Being, That Becomes

Thomas Jones was ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order in 2004, receiving the name Dhivan, meaning 'thoughtful' or 'intelligent'. At Lancaster University he obtained a BA in Religious Studies and a PhD in the philosophy of love. He also has a degree in Pali and Sanskrit from the University of Cambridge and teaches courses in the arts for the Open University. Sagaraghosa is a renowned teacher of Buddhism and meditation. She currently leads courses in meditation and Buddhism in Cambridge.

Preface and acknowledgements Introduction: Buddhism and Conditionality - 'Those things conditionally arisen - ' - A presentation of conditionality - How to use this book Part 1: Core Teachings on Conditionality Chapter 1: The Principle of Conditionality - The fundamental principle of the Dharma - A vision of human existence - The Dharma as a practical teaching - An example - stress - The difference between 'causes' and 'conditions' - Conditionality as a transcendental principle - The difficulty of the Dharma Chapter 2: The Scope of Conditionality - The conversions of Sariputta and Moggallana - Reactive mind and creative mind - The four noble truths - Dukkha and its origin in craving - Cessation and the path - Mindful awareness as the hinge Chapter 3: The Twelve Links - The twelve nidanas in the Pali canon - The Wheel of Life and the three-life interpretation - The twelve nidanas as explaining dukkha - Ignorance, formations, consciousness and name-and-form - The six sense realms, contact, feeling, and craving - Clinging, existence, birth and ageing-and-death Chapter 4: The Spiral Path - The factors of the 'spiral path' - Opening stages of the path - The path from joy to insight - Insight, liberation and awakening - Two images for the path - How to approach the path Part 2: The Implications of Conditionality Chapter 5: Karma, Conditionality and Ethics - The Buddha's teaching of karma - Karma as intention - Karma, defilements and character - Karma and ethics Chapter 6: Conditionality as Middle Way - The middle way as a lifestyle - The extremes of indulgence and self-mortification - The middle way between existence and non-existence - Eternalism and annihilationism Chapter 7: The Nature of Existence - All conditioned things are impermanent and unsatisfactory - All things are without self - Proliferation and conflict - The conditioned and the unconditioned Chapter 8: Emptiness and Interdependence - Conditionality as 'emptiness' - Mutual interpenetration - The 'poetry of interconnectedness' - Interdependence and conditionality Appendix: 24 Nidana Reflection - Introductory note - Part 1: the spiral path - Part 2: the cyclic nidanas - Part 3: the spiral path (concluded) - Concluding note: - Pronounciation Guide for Pali and Sanskrit Words - Glossary of Pali and Sanskrit Buddhist terms - Notes and References