Samuppāda definition
Samuppāda means the causal phenomenon (dhamma) that can make another phenomenon (dhamma) arise. “Paṭicca” means “depending on” or “because of another phenomenon”. Paṭicca is translated as “dependent” while samuppāda as “arising” or “origination”, thus Paṭicca-samuppāda is mostly translated as “Dependent Origination” or “Dependent Arising” in English. Actually, Paṭicca-samuppāda means the conditioning dhamma or causal dhamma. This causal dhamma also depends on another cause, as such; this causal dhamma is depending on another causal dhamma. This implies that this causal dhamma or conditioning dhamma is not the root cause (mūla) because it depends on another cause. It itself is defined as a resultant dhamma or conditioned phenomenon. That is why the Buddha said that all phenomena are neither causeless cause nor primary cause. It can acts as a cause or an effect. Actually, all phenomena are mutually related by cause and effect or are inter- conditional (inter-dependent).