[Buddha-l] Dependent arising variants

[Erik Hoogcarspel]

Dan Lusthaus schreef:

>Stephen,
>
>  
>
>>Well, take two nidanas at random.  Old age and death are said to arise in
>>dependence upon birth.  Obviously, one will not get old and die without
>>having been born, but for me it sounds rather odd to say that birth causes
>>old age and death.  There is no causality here in the scientific, or even
>>everyday, sense.
>>    
>>
>
>So you are disputing that birth is both a necessary and sufficient cause of
>death? Does anything that hasn't been born die? Does anything that is born
>not die (much as many hope)? So, rather than cancer, war, cardiovascular
>conditions, car accidents, and whatever other thing one can point to,
>"birth" is indeed the number one cause of death. Death follows birth
>ineluctably and necessarily. Even Mark Twain admitted that.
>
>
>  
>
(Sorry Stephen, but I cannot help speak for you just this once.)

Well, it's very unusual if a desparate parent asks: 'O, doctor, what is 
the cause of my sons death?' and the doctor answers after some 
reflection: 'I think it was his birth'.

Erik


www.xs4all.nl/~jehms