Chapter 6 - Absence Of Effort

Another aspect of Paticcasamuppada is the absence of effort (avyapara). Avijja causes sankhara without striving and sankhara does not strive to create rebirth. Knowledge of this fact means insight into the non existence of any agent or being (karaka puggala) who hears, sees, etc., and as such it makes us free from ego belief. But as Visuddhimagga says, it lends itself to misinterpretation and turns one into a moral sceptic who accepts determinism and denies moral freedom.

The non volitional nature of conditioned psycho physical phenomena is apparent to the yogi who contemplates their ceaseless arising and dissolution for he realizes clearly that since nama rupa is conditioned, his mind and body do not always act according to his desire.