2013-08-15 Sigapore Buddhist asked the questin

I am very glad that a Sigapore Buddhist asked the questin:

Hi Master!! May I know e causes that leads to e 1st thought of delusion r eg. greed, hatred,habitual n repetitive feeding of one's greed n hatred habits=(习气) n what other causes ??

Master answers:
The first cause of Twelve Links of Dependent Origination is ignorance. We can't find out the deeper cause of ignorance, so it is called ignorance. Sanskrit word is Avidya. Literally, it means darkness without illumination. Actually it refers to illusion without englightenment, i.e., the illusory phenomena for realities. Avidya is the first of the Twelve Nidanas. Ignorance, karma and desire are the three forces that cause reincarnation.