Greetings Pannapetar,
Pannapetar wrote:I am getting the impression that you let your bias about the rebirth issue affect your understanding of dependent origination.
What bias is that, then?
First, dependent origination is an analysis of samsara.
Find me a sutta that says that.
I'll find one that says this...
SN 12.15: Kaccayanagotta Sutta
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From ignorance as a requisite condition come fabrications. From fabrications as a requisite condition comes consciousness. From consciousness as a requisite condition comes name-&-form. From name-&-form as a requisite condition come the six sense media. From the six sense media as a requisite condition comes contact. From contact as a requisite condition comes feeling. From feeling as a requisite condition comes craving. From craving as a requisite condition comes clinging/sustenance. From clinging/sustenance as a requisite condition comes becoming. From becoming as a requisite condition comes birth. From birth as a requisite condition, then aging & death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair come into play. Such is the origination of this entire mass of stress & suffering.
Pannapetar wrote:It describes how samsara (conditioned existence) arises and how it is held together.
You are objectifying "samsara (conditioned existence)" as something objective rather than seeing it as something based on your ignorance which causes you to suffer. Whilst you study it "from afar" you will not understand.
Pannapetar wrote:Since conditioned existence is characterised by the three marks, dependent origination is likewise an analysis of dukkha, anatta, and anicca, correct?
Correct.
Pannapetar wrote:Second, dependent origination is circular
Wrong - show me a sutta that says dukkha is a condition for ignorance.
Pannapetar wrote:[DO is...] connected, and interdependent. This is to say that the twelve nidanas are causally connected and that the last nidana links to the first one, correct?
No. Wrong.
Pannapetar wrote:Furthermore, if we delete any single nidana of the twelve nidanas then the connection is broken and the model is compromised, correct?
You've already compromised it so much it's hard to answer your question.
Pannapetar wrote:Third, the eleventh nidana is called jati which means birth. It is the point where kamma comes to fruition. Because dependent origination is circular, birth is synonymous with rebirth, correct?
Wrong. Do you think kamma only comes to fruition in the next life?
Pannapetar wrote:If you can accept these premises then it follows logically....
Well, it goes without saying I don't.
Pannapetar wrote:In other words: rebirth is a requirement for conditioned existence
Sorry, I don't mean to laugh... but it's hard not to. You're so adamant you're right when you're so far off the mark, yet you're trying to turn it around to suggest you're right, and anyone else who doesn't fanatically chant rebirth from the rafters is some kind of heretic.
Pannapetar wrote:and since conditioned existence implies dukkha, rebirth is also a requirement for dukkha.
Pannapetar wrote:Was that clear?
As mud.
I'm sorry Pannapetar... I cannot in good faith continue this discussion with you as your understanding of dependent origination, suffering and the whole point of the Dhamma is so totally removed from my own understanding that there is no point in continuing any form of dialogue.
Metta,
Retro.
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."