and raised us, so this question is hardly an appropriate one. Were
I to say that human beings are born of ignorance and craving,
this would cause more confusion and misunderstanding than if
I gave no answer at all. People have no knowledge whatsoever of
what ignorance and craving are, although they are present there
in everyone – except, of course, in the Arahants. The trouble is
people are not interested enough to make the necessary effort for
understanding these things, so that leaves the obvious answer:
we are born of our parents. This then opens me up to the criti-
cism that I’ve answered too briefly. But it is hard to give a reply
which goes to the truth of the matter, when the one asking the
question is not really much interested in the truth to begin with.
The Lord Buddha taught that both people and animals are born
of avijjã paccaya sankhãra... samudayo hoti.^17 The ceasing of birth,
which is the cessation of all dukkha, stems from avijjãya tveva asesa-
virãga nirodhã sankhãrã nirodho... nirodho hoti.^18 This condition is
inherent within the heart of each and every person who has kile-
sas. Once the truth has been accepted, it becomes clear that it’s
just this which leads to birth as a human being or an animal until
the world becomes so crowded one can hardly find a place to live.
The primary cause is just this ignorance and insatiable craving.
Though we haven’t even died yet, we are already searching for a
place to be born into and where we can carry on living – an atti-
tude of mind that leads human beings and animals all over the
world to birth and constant suffering. Anyone wishing to know
the truth should take a look at the citta that’s full of the kind of
kilesas which are frantically looking to affirm birth and life at all
times. That person will undoubtedly find what he’s looking for
without having to ask anyone else. Such questions merely display
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
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