Part II: Pratitya Samutpada
The problem with life as a point is that it seems small; too small to accurately describe existence. Let us continue with the metaphor; however, and see what happens with a little more clarification.
Life is a point. Each being’s existence is defined inside one point. There is nothing else. At the same time, interaction does occur between these points. How does this interaction take place, and how does it affect the point?
It is clear that one being can affect another being. For example, I just punched (lightly of course), my co-worker. My point reached out and touched his point. The two points are now joined. There are still two points, but the two points are connected.
Consider how many times this happens every day, every second. Murmuring voices in the background, a conversation with a friend, a car driving beside you. Every second of every day points are reaching out and connecting to other points. Some connections are thick and strong, others are thin and light.
Pratitya samutpada is the teaching of dependent (sometimes translated as interdependent) arising.
All beings are connected in a web of cause and effect. Nothing is solitary. Everything is connected.
Consider that this has been happening since the beginning of everything. One point reached out and touched another point. The two points, while still distinct, became related by that link; each retained a part of the other. For all eternity, the two will be connected. The two are not one for they are still two points. However, the two cannot exist alone, for they are inseparably connected to one another. From this point on, there is no existence apart from the whole.
As this pattern continues, points become less distinct. Think of ink on paper. At first there are a few lone inkblots. Then, as more ink falls to the page, blots merge and expand. There are no individual blots only one large blot. There is no large blot, only individual inkblots overlapping.
August 8th, 2006 at 12:46
“As this pattern continues, points become less distinct.”
Yes, now THAT is where it starts melding with my expereince. That in fact there is no TREE or TREV or PHONE or COKE as individual “things” – but that it is all this ink-wash, as you put it.
Very cool posts, my friend.
August 8th, 2006 at 15:39
Hm.
Photons, by the way, seem to manage, too. To know.
How does interaction affect the point?
Not at all, except, perhaps, in perception…
Hm.
August 8th, 2006 at 15:46
Hm…
Interaction affects the point in more ways than simply perception. Through interaction, the two points become inseperably linked. They become one. In fact, the effects of the interaction are beyond perception.
August 8th, 2006 at 20:28
You guys make my brain hurt!
Return to simplicity.
Please.
December 4th, 2006 at 16:43
[...] Some of you may remember a few posts I had a few months back on existence, the universe and so on (here are the links if you missed them: Part I, Part II, Part II-2, and Part III.) I forget exactly why this one was never published (other than it obviously being incomplete.) There aren’t any answers, just questions. I thought I would post the questions today and maybe follow up with some answers (or ideas about answers rather) later this week. [...]