Dependent Origination as Emergence of the Subject – A cognitive-psychological Approach

Abstract

ABSTRACT Dependent Origination (Pāli paṭiccasamuppāda) is one of the fundamental concepts of early Buddhism. Traditionally, it is interpreted as a description of saṃsāra, the cycle of rebirth. This article offers a psychological interpretation of Dependent Origination as a model that describes how the forming unconscious of the foetus develops into the self-conscious mind of the adult human. This perspective opens new possibilities for the integration of Buddhist mind development, cognitive psychology and psychotherapy.