A swift pair of messengers by Bhikkhu Sujato aims to clarify the meaning and function of samatha and vipassana in Buddhist meditation. Much has been written on this topic, yet a cloud of confusion persists. Time and again the suttas indicate that key aspects of vipassana, especially impermanence, must be understood in terms of dependent origination ? how the identification and involvement with experience projects consciousness into future rebirth. Dependent origination is the thread which ties this work together.