Escaping Samsara

Understanding the 12 Links of Dependent Arising

March 14 – 22, 2019

A 9-day Residential Intermediate-Level Course. Led by Venerable Legtsok.

Is it truly possible to substantially improve the quality of our existence? This course explores that question.

As the Buddha’s explanation of death and rebirth assumes the existence of past and future lives, we will first look at reasons and evidence for and against reincarnation.

Buddha explained how afflictive emotions give rise to karma which gives rise to ordinary rebirth in a 12-step cycle which plays out from life to life.  He had this process depicted in a famous illustration commonly known as the Wheel of Life.  Using this illustration as a basis we will examine precisely what samsara is, how it is generated through this 12-step process, and how, with this knowledge in hand, we can work toward bringing an end to this vicious cycle of suffering for ourselves and others.

Reading List:

Books:

  • The Wheel of Life: Buddhist Perspectives on Cause and Effect, by Dalai Lama, Jeffrey Hopkins and Richard Gere
  • Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, Vol 1, Section on the 12-links
  • Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand, Section on the 12-link
  • How Karma Works: The Twelve Links of Dependent-Arising, by Geshe Sonam Rinchen

 

Articles:

For more information about Intermediate Courses, including a typical schedule and how to register, please see our Intermediate Course Page.