<p>It depends what you mean by "focussing on". If by that you mean thinking about mentally, then no, that is not possible, since the mind will be focussed on an abstract object and not be able to see impermanence, suffering, and non-self.</p>

<p>If by that you mean observing empirically then yes, since the links are ultimate reality. By focussing on them, you will see impermanence, suffering, and non-self, which is the path of purification, according to the Buddha.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-17T13:29:43.357Z
2015-03-17T13:29:43.357Z
yuttadhammo
<p>Can you gain stream entry by focusing on the links in dependent co-arising <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.002.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.002.than.html</a>. </p>

<p>The buddha says this: "And what is the noble method that is rightly seen and rightly ferreted out by discernment? There is the case where a disciple of the noble ones notices:</p>

<pre><code>When this is, that is.
From the arising of this comes the arising of that.
When this isn't, that isn't.
From the cessation of this comes the cessation of that." 
</code></pre>

<p>In reference to dependent co-arising, but I wonder whether it's actually a method.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-14T19:15:07.643Z
In all my time studying and practicing Buddhism, I've never seen a use for dependent arising.  At one extreme (the 12 point chain) it seems incoherent, nonsensical and self-evidently false.  At the other extreme, it seems so simplistic and obvious as to be banal.  I'd welcome some practical application of this!
R. Barzell
<pratityasamutpada><stream-entry>
Can stream entry be reached by focusing on the links in dependent co-arising
# Can stream entry be reached by focusing on the links in dependent co-arising

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-03-14)

Can you gain stream entry by focusing on the links in dependent co-arising http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn12/sn12.002.than.html. 
The buddha says this: "And what is the noble method that is rightly seen and rightly ferreted out by discernment? There is the case where a disciple of the noble ones notices:
When this is, that is.
From the arising of this comes the arising of that.
When this isn't, that isn't.
From the cessation of this comes the cessation of that." 

In reference to dependent co-arising, but I wonder whether it's actually a method.

**Tags:** pratityasamutpada, stream-entry

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: In all my time studying and practicing Buddhism, I've never seen a use for dependent arising.  At one extreme (the 12 point chain) it seems incoherent, nonsensical and self-evidently false.  At the other extreme, it seems so simplistic and obvious as to be banal.  I'd welcome some practical application of this!  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-03-17. Score: 3

It depends what you mean by "focussing on". If by that you mean thinking about mentally, then no, that is not possible, since the mind will be focussed on an abstract object and not be able to see impermanence, suffering, and non-self.

If by that you mean observing empirically then yes, since the links are ultimate reality. By focussing on them, you will see impermanence, suffering, and non-self, which is the path of purification, according to the Buddha.


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