<p>Some of these pictures are found in <a href="http://www.sangham.at/Div_uploads/Teaching_Dhamma_with_pictures.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Teaching Dhamma by Pictures</a> By Ven. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu with the meaning. Following are the relevant pages:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/4IJXc.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/4IJXc.jpg" alt="Dependent Origination"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/vAY1P.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/vAY1P.jpg" alt="Dependent Origination"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-11T21:12:57.303Z
You cheated!! Your answer does not count! You spoiled the fun, naughty Suminda!
Dhamma Dhatu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-13T18:18:01.627Z
Ah, but the guidelines of a 'good answer' state that one should avoid: "Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references...".
GVCOJims
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-13T18:28:07.840Z
Honorable Dhammadhatu, I think you are just unhappy because he 'spoiled your fun'! :>)  Oh, and does 'based on opinion' include giving answers 'using wisdom & reasoning' without explaining the reasoning? Perhaps a question for another thread? Best, Jim
GVCOJims
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-11T14:19:23.430Z
2017-07-11T14:19:23.430Z
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
<p>Āvuso Suminda found a published answer.</p>

<p>While it may sound strange of me to disagree with the author, I prefer:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>The elephant is the ignorant mind with three <em>asava</em> (taints), per MN 9.</p></li>
<li><p>The frog (croaking) is vedana or feelings.  </p></li>
<li><p>The snake is craving.</p></li>
<li><p>The bird is self-becoming (<em>bhava</em>) attached to (<em>upadana</em>) five branches (<em>khandha</em>) being chewed up by birth, aging, illness &amp; death (impermanence).  </p></li>
</ol>

<p>What I find particularly profound or explanatory by the pictures is how dependent origination is not depicted as 'linear' but as something 'growing', 'building' or 'compounding' from within, with all conditions 'co-dependently-arising-together'. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-11T21:33:31.110Z
2017-07-11T21:33:31.110Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>The first one represents desire, grasping something whose roots are impermanent.</p>

<p>The next ones look like Tathagatagarbha.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-11T21:17:00.510Z
OK. ChrisW gets the prize because he appeared to provide a good answer using wisdom & reasoning. Well done. Saddhu.
Dhamma Dhatu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-11T13:53:52.043Z
2017-07-11T13:53:52.043Z
ChrisW
<p>I found a dhamma riddle below. </p>

<p>What do we think it means? </p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/NHWKu.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/NHWKu.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<pratityasamutpada>
Dhamma riddle? What does it mean?
# Dhamma riddle? What does it mean?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-07-11)

I found a dhamma riddle below.

What do we think it means?

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/NHWKu.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/NHWKu.jpg)

**Tags:** pratityasamutpada


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-07-11. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

The first one represents desire, grasping something whose roots are impermanent.

The next ones look like Tathagatagarbha.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: OK. username_3 gets the prize because he appeared to provide a good answer using wisdom & reasoning. Well done. Saddhu.  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2017-07-11. Score: 2

Some of these pictures are found in [Teaching Dhamma by Pictures](http://www.sangham.at/Div_uploads/Teaching_Dhamma_with_pictures.pdf) By Ven. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu with the meaning. Following are the relevant pages:

[![Dependent Origination](https://i.sstatic.net/4IJXc.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/4IJXc.jpg)

[![Dependent Origination](https://i.sstatic.net/vAY1P.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/vAY1P.jpg)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: You cheated!! Your answer does not count! You spoiled the fun, naughty Suminda!  
> **username_2**: Ah, but the guidelines of a 'good answer' state that one should avoid: "Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references...".  
> **username_2**: Honorable Dhammadhatu, I think you are just unhappy because he 'spoiled your fun'! :>)  Oh, and does 'based on opinion' include giving answers 'using wisdom & reasoning' without explaining the reasoning? Perhaps a question for another thread? Best, Jim  

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### Answer by username_0 on 2017-07-11. Score: 2

Āvuso Suminda found a published answer.

While it may sound strange of me to disagree with the author, I prefer:

1. The elephant is the ignorant mind with three *asava* (taints), per MN 9.
2. The frog (croaking) is vedana or feelings.
3. The snake is craving.
4. The bird is self-becoming (*bhava*) attached to (*upadana*) five branches (*khandha*) being chewed up by birth, aging, illness & death (impermanence).

What I find particularly profound or explanatory by the pictures is how dependent origination is not depicted as 'linear' but as something 'growing', 'building' or 'compounding' from within, with all conditions 'co-dependently-arising-together'.


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