Cause and Condition
Buddhism basically touches on the scenario of cause and condition more than the case of cause and effect.Frankly speaking, all phenomenal existences are products of the proper combination of causes and conditions.For example, according tothe philosophy of yin-yang, our bodies are made up of the combination of four great elements of earth, water, fire and wind and if any of these elements are not in a harmonious orientation, we would be taken ill physically.These four elements would represent the causes and the conditions would be the need for it to orientate with one another harmoniously at all times or otherwise, our bodies would fall sick as the result.The principle-in-effect: -
This arising (the cause and condition), that arises (the result);This ceasing (the cause and condition), that ceases (the result).
In other words, everything that exists is the result of multiple causes and conditions. Each of the causes would need other causes to be present together with their respective conditions.Just like for a new house to exist, we need the bricks, cement, wood, iron rods, roof tiles, plastic pipes and other materials. The construction can only be completed when one has all the essential materials and all the pre-requisites are met, such as the skillfulness of the workers, the time allocation, etc.Thewood needs the forest, the sunshine, the rain, etc.The workers need their parents, their meals, their clothing, their shelters, etc.If we were to observe these scenarios in its entirety, we could realise that everything in the cosmos attributed to the existence of the new house; without it, the new house would be impossible. The clear fact here is that one cause is never enough to bring about an effect.A cause must, at the same time, be an effect, and every effect must also be the cause of something else.
The principle-in-effect: -
Cause 1 conjures up Effect 1,
Effect 1 conjures up Cause 1-1, Cause 1-1 conjures up Effect 1-1,Effect 1-1 conjures up Cause 1-1-1,..., etc.
Therefore, cause and effect are simply two aspects of the same thing.The only difference between these two aspects is the time of event.In other words, cause and effect are inter-changing, inter-relating and inter-waving with one another.This is how the conventional reality works i.e. not in-linear but in inter-dependence, inter-woven and inter-relation since the dawn of time in a very comprehensive and complicated network of existence.In other words, cause and effect cannot be referred independently in a linear point of reference and therefore, no first cause, no first effect can be found within the dependent nature.Instead, there is only inter-dependent co-arising of all things or matters.This means everything that exists is empty because there is no essence to anything and nothing has ever existed in its own quality – nothing is permanent and unchanging.All objects exist conditionally without an eternal essence i.e. every existence is empty and emptiness is in every existence.
Last edited by Buddhitakso on 23-10-2013 05:54 PM
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