How does existence keep going according to Buddhism? The Buddha’s explanation of what was happening was explained in his teaching on Dependent Origination. The basic answer is that birth and death are part of a cycle similar to non-sentient process cycles that go on and on unless and until some link in the chain of events is broken. Think of the cycle of life and death as a circle of lights. Then answer, without being arbitrary, “Where does the circle begin? Where does it end?” The answer is “No beginning. No end. Just a circle.” It was this understanding of the circle of existence that preceded the Buddha’s enlightenment. “This arises because of that, shaped by these conditions.” Cause and effect — over and over again. That is the crux of Dependent Origination, though in the formal teaching, they are broken down into twelve steps or so.

The term Skandhas is often interpreted as “aggregates” or “heaps” but neither of those words are very helpful to Westerners. According to Red Pine, in his book, The Heart Sutra, the term skandha really refers to the trunk of a tree, or a pillar made of wood. In this context, the skandhas are aspects of experience that form the pillars of a “self” one believes in.

The skandhas then are points of view that are intimately connected to each other, and not in any way self subsistent or standalone aspects of reality. It is their interconnection that gives rise to the persistent notion of a self. The skandhas are:

• Form
• Sensation
• Perception
• Memory
• Consciousness

The Fourth Noble Truth is that the Eightfold Path is the means of removing this cause of suffering. In summary outline form, the Eightfold Path is:

Cultivation of Wisdom

• right view
• right thought

Moral Action

• right speech
• right action
• right livelihood

Meditation Practice

• right effort
• right mindfulness
• right contemplation