The core teaching of Buddhism is dependent origination by Zen
Master Jongbeom Sunim What is the truth Buddhism expounds? What
are its foundational teachings? These are essential questions
for the newcomer. In a nutshell, Buddhism teaches dependent
origination and the Middle Way. These two principles form the
core of Buddhist philosophy-dependent origination explains the
principle of Buddhism, while the Middle Way defines the practice
of Buddhism. Gautama Buddha was enlightened to the principle of
dependent origination, and then for the rest of his life he
taught students the practice of the Middle Way. This was Lord
Buddha¡¯s succinct explanation: ¡°Whoever sees dependent
origination sees the Dharma; whoever sees the Dharma sees
dependent origination.¡± What is dependent origination?
According to the principle of dependent origination, everything
in the universe, including objects, ideas, beings, events, and
processes, depends on numerous causes and conditions. Nothing
ever exists entirely alone or independen