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'Conditioned things'

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Some thoughts to ponder, from Chapter 20 in The Dhammapada (Trans. Max Muller)

5 (277) "All conditioned things are impermanent." The one who knows and perceives this fact ceases to be miserable. This is the way to purity of vision.

6 (278) "All conditioned things are involved in suffering." The one who knows and perceives this fact ceases to be miserable. This is the way to purity of vision.

Beautiful sayings. Seeing the way 'out' we follow, and are freed.

Matthew

Comments

Philip said…
I guess conditioned things are those things that exist dependent on other conditions. Like people can't exist without air to breathe. So, most everything in the material world is conditioned, right?
5:54 AM
Character Animator said…
Philip,

'Conditioned things' applies to everything that is 'created', even a 'person'. Conditioned things are said to 'not have existence on their own side', which means they are dependent on other things for their being. When the elements that make up a conditioned thing 'disperse' the conditioned thing disappears.

In Buddhism a person is thought of as made up of the five Aggregates (Skandhas): Rupa, Vedana, Samjna, Samskara and Vijnana.-

1) Rupa- Form, which is not just our physical bodies, but the physical elements that interact with 'our' bodies.

2) Vedana- Feeling or Sensation. There are three basic sensations listed A) pleasant, B) unpleasant, and C) neutral.

3) Samjna- Perception. Perception is how we understand something and recognize it. It's more than just the 'raw experience'. It has to do with attaching a label or name to the 'raw' experience, which gives meaning within our mental framework.

4) Samskara- Volition, which is a conditioned response to something sensed. (It includes habits, opinions, thoughts, decisions, etc.)

5) Vijnana- Consciousness. This is a very important category. I like to think of it as Awareness. Most people use perception, rather than awareness. Awareness training or Mindfulness, is a very powerful practice which help a person break through desires and clinging. It allows us to find freedom (from Suffering.)

Matthew
12:13 AM
Philip said…
Thanks for the excellent description Matthew. Seems like the 5th Skandha, Vijnana, is where the action is, on the path to liberation. Seems to me that it has something to do with Unconditioned Love.
6:31 AM
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