"Dependent on birth, there is aging-and-death.”

 Aging- and- death is dependent on birth which means that if birth of anybody, anywhere and in any state does not exist, death-and-aging does not exist. If none of the beings is born including ghost, humans, quadrupeds, birds, reptiles in any of the various states, there would be no aging-and-death (Holder, 29). This is to mean that once the birth of any being ceases, the aging-and-death ceases in return. Therefore, the cause or origin of aging and death is the existence of birth. The condition of aging and dying is in existence because a being was born. Hence, the world is fallen and is in trouble because once a being is born, they age and then dies. It passes away yet it cannot understand how it can escape from this suffering. After Buddha is in particular asked the being that dies after aging, his response is dependent arising (Holder, 30).

Giving this response is to specifically say that any being that is born out of this process is what undergoes aging and death. Any being that is brought to this world through birth has to die. The process of being reborn completes the cycle and yet the being will still be subject to the same process again. It explains the notion by Buddha that no one should have confidence his or her self becoming permanent. The formula seems obscure but this can be explained by the fact that it’s making cannot be from the perspective of a being who results from re-birth and undergoing aging and death (Blanchard, 27). Only that being that is born that will experience the process of aging – and-dying.  

References

Holder, John J., ed. Early Buddhist Discourses. Hackett Publishing, 2006. 29-30

 

Blanchard, Linda S. Dependent Arising in Context: The Buddha's Core Lesson in the Context of His Times and Ours. Milwaukee, WI: Nãrada, 2012. 27