What Do Phenomena And Existence Mean?
Phenomena appear to ascend or are perceived by our senses to arise within themselves, but they are not. All phenomena, including emptiness, are dependent. It does not exist in an intrinsic way like this or that on their own sides, unrelated to the consciousness that perceives them. With regard to existence, that which exists is defined as that which may be known by the mind or otherwise, it does not exist. By convention, things can exist within the confines of the mind as fallacy or reality.
For example, in a room, there are two individuals, namely Individual A (Mind A) and Individual B (Mind B). Let’s say Individual A is holding a ball that is concealed from Individual B. In this case, the ball exists in the room because it is already known to Individual A (Mind A). However, there is no ball in the room if you ask Individual B (Mind B). Ultimately, it is the mental consciousness itself that is responsible for the development of the phenomenon or existence. The following principle applies: -
Without mental consciousness, no phenomenon would take place,
Without the phenomenon, there would be no dependency.
Vipassanā Meditation: To See Things As They Really Are
The purpose of vipassanā meditation is only to model the mind to see all that it really is. In other words, the mind would enter into full observation (mindfulness) without identifying the stream of thought until the pure awareness is fulfilled. Let’s see the illustrations below: -
Microscopic Analysis Of The Object (Solid Ball)
By zooming in, you could see what was in the core of the solid ball, the atoms. But there was nothing to discover apart from the vibrant space. In the end, this observation would give way to the emptiness of the substance.
Macroscopic Analysis Of The Object (Solid Ball)
As you zoom out, the solid ball seems to shrink to the smallest possible size. In the end, such a finding would also give way to the emptiness of the substance.
The above analysis has revealed that the emptiness of phenomena is the cause and consequence of the dependent nature of phenomena. This is the inherent nature of existence and is seen as the ultimate reality because it exists inherently right as it is perceived directly by the enlightened mind.
Kamma And Wishes
In Buddhism, kamma refers to volitional action, but by definition, it means action. Therefore, to have a glimpse of kamma and its consequences (kamma-vipāka), it is vital to understand the laws of motion. Let us consider Newton’s laws of motion as shown below: -
1st Law Of Motion
Every object in a coherent state of motion tends to remain in this state of movement unless an external force is applied.
2nd Law Of Motion
It has to do with the relationship between the mass of an object, its acceleration, and the applied force. Under this law, the direction of the force vector is identical to the direction of the acceleration vector.
3rd Law Of Motion
Every action leads to an equal and opposing reaction.
In a nutshell, Newton’s third law of motion would fall into constant motion. This means that we can assume that the incoming factor is the same as the becoming factor. However, the opposing forces would indicate a single harmonising mechanism under a variable motion, as shown below: -
Scenario 1 - Acceleration
When the incoming factor accelerates, the relative becoming factor decelerates: -
Force A incoming↑ Force A becoming↓
For example, a twin who flies off in a spaceship travelling near the speed of light and comes back to find out her twin is a lot older. That’s because the twin inside the spaceship would meet the deceleration process of becoming. It describes time dilation based on Einstein’s special theory of relativity.
Scenario 2 - Deceleration
When the incoming factor decelerates, the relative becoming factor accelerates: -
Force A incoming↓ Force A becoming↑
For example, if the speed of the car drops, it is literally decelerating; mathematically, it is an acceleration in the opposite direction to that of motion and vice versa. This scenario also explains why the process of recovering people would accelerate after taking a cool vacation.
For the general understanding, human thoughts are cosmic waves of energy that pervade all time, space, and it is the most powerful vibration that can attract what is desired or wished for. This means we attract what we send (like draws like) but the timeline for the end result always depends on the performer’s skills. Given this, every desire for happiness and well-being of oneself and others must be carried out in a meditative state with full concentration and awareness, that is, in a slow-paced recitation. It is mainly a question of using deceleration factors to accelerate the final result.
In Buddhism, the mettā bhavana (cultivation of loving-kindness) is regarded as one of the powerful antidotes to relieve immeasurable suffering in samsāra. It is a potent antidote that accelerates the realisation of emptiness and the enlightenment of individuals. Ultimately, all wishes should be expressed not only in a clear and slow discrete tempo, but also in full concentration and mindfulness. This allows you to gain insight into immediate outcomes. Unfortunately, most people don’t always get what they want, primarily because of improper enforcement.
Understanding Of Dependent Origination
In Buddhism, Dependent Origination is referred to as a principle of interrelated causality. It explicates that all phenomenal existences are products of the proper combination of causes and conditions. Each of the causes would need other causes to be present together with their respective conditions. Let’s look at these causal relationships: -
Equanimity (E0) leads to stability. Stability leads to aggregation. Aggregation leads to agitation. Agitation leads to information. Information leads to knowledge. Knowledge leads to representation. Representation leads to memory. Memory leads to compulsion. Compulsion leads to ignorance. Ignorance leads to blindness. Blindness leads to disorientation. Disorientation leads to confusion. Confusion leads to irrationality. Irrationality leads to impulse. Impulse leads to sparkling. Sparkling leads to inkling. Inkling leads to volition. Volition leads to awareness. Awareness leads to consciousness. Consciousness leads to manas. Manas leads to mind and body. Mind and body lead to sensation. Sensation leads to six sense bases. Six sense bases lead to conductivity. Conductivity leads to contact. Contact leads to stimulation. Stimulation leads to feeling. Feeling leads to experience. Experience leads to craving. Craving leads to grasping. Grasping leads to clinging. Clinging leads to unsettling. Unsettling leads to becoming. Becoming leads to creation. Creation leads to birth. Birth leads to energising. Energising leads to mobility. Mobility leads to hauling. Hauling leads to aging. Aging leads to draining. Draining leads to death. Death leads to fragility. Fragility leads to segregation. Segregation leads to diffusion. Diffusion leads to discomposure. Discomposure leads to adjustment. Adjustment leads to alignment. Alignment leads to equanimity (E1).
In the dependent nature, everything is a matrix of everything and all things or matters are interdependently co-arising. As such, it is essential to see the Dependent Origination in a correct perspective that does not build narratives out of a series of linear events. In conventional reality, all things will co-exist interdependently across a complex web of existence.
Cause And Condition
To be honest, any phenomenal existence is the product of the right combination of causes and conditions. For example, in the yin-yang philosophy, our body consists of the combination of the four major elements of earth, water, fire, and wind. If some of these elements are not in an orderly orientation, physically we would be taken ill. Ultimately, the four major elements may be characterised as the causes, while the harmonious orientation between these elements constituted the conditions. The following principle applies: -
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’s out there comes from various causes and conditions. Each case would require other causes to be present and their respective conditions. Just like for a new home to exist, we need bricks, cement, wood, iron bars, roof tiles, plastic hoses, and other materials. Construction can only be completed if all essential materials are available and all prerequisites are met, such as workers’ skills, time allocation, etc. The chain of links: wood needs forest, sunlight, rain, etc., and workers need their parents, food, clothing, shelter, etc.
Through contemplation, we would realise that everything in the cosmos is attributed to the existence of the new home; without it, the new home would be impossible. This means that no single cause is ever sufficient to produce an effect. A cause should simultaneously be an effect, and every effect should also be the cause of something else. In other words, the cause-effect relationship is just two sides of the same thing. Ultimately, all things or matters in the cosmos are interdependent co-arising infinitely. The following principle is applicable: -
Cause 1 evokes Effect 1,
Effect 1 evokes Cause 1-1,
Cause 1-1 evokes Effect 1-1,
Effect 1-1 evokes Cause 1-1-1,
etc.
Time Travel Through Wormholes
A wormhole is viewed as a portal for different planes of existence. First, the object or matter has to be within the subject’s frequency horizon; without it, observation would be impossible. This means that all existences with higher vibrational frequencies would be capable of discerning other existences with lower vibrational frequencies and not the other way around. For example, time travel could happen within the human domain and it is commonly known as trance. In trances, we can ask the different spirits to guide us and the innate mental consciousness of the medium is the gateway to such spiritual communication.
Seeking Truth
In general, the truth comes out of you because “you are the truth”. It means you’re making truths and not someone else. Literally, it’s hard for a person to see the truth because “their eyes couldn’t see their own eyes”. For example, ducks and cattle are two created truths. Indeed, such truth is known as conventional truth. It is a subjective-cum-relative truth and the final conclusion varies from one observer to another.
For example, if you had to show an iPhone to a caveman, he would describe it as a worthless hard object. And if you show it to an ant, then it becomes a huge, heavy item. Likewise, in respective circumstances, you can be named as a son, a father, a preacher, a student, a Caucasian, an American, a skinny man, an old man, a stranger, and so on. Ultimately, the observer will provide the recognition according to his or her respective perceptions.
Meanwhile, for one who believes in the existence of God as the creator of the universe, every life in the cosmos would rise and fall into God’s kingdom. This means that all beings or things are the essential constituents of God and realising the whole perspective of Mother Nature is what enlightenment is about in Buddhism. It is regarded as the zenith of all phenomena with the attributes of emptiness, that is, the supreme state of all things.
For a theist, this phenomenon is also called the Supreme One or God. That is the most profound fact where nothing can be recognised beyond its periphery. In the final analysis, there are two sides to truth: conventional truth and ultimate truth. Before expressing one’s viewpoint, it is imperative to side with the truth, respectively. Nonetheless, to see the truth can be simple and straightforward.
Buddhadhamma: Embracing Neutrality
For general understanding, Buddha’s teaching is not a restricted path dedicated to the select few. Precisely, Buddhadhamma (Buddha’s teachings) is merely about direct experience by yourself and nothing else. It’s in the air that you breathe, in the things that you feel or touch, it’s just all over the cosmos. Hence, it is universal and applicable to all beings or things, independently of the planes of existence.
Meanwhile, the original teaching of the Buddha transcended Buddhism as it is conventionally understood. The enclosed suffix -ism in this context represents adhesion to a system or class of principles as taught by the Buddha. Actually, the original context of Buddhadhamma focuses on methodology rather than on the character of an individual. This means that it lies in the direct experience of oneself, by oneself or through other means.
Furthermore, the Buddha advises his listeners not to believe what he has said until we investigate it. It is to keep the original essence of Buddhadhamma intact and timeless. In Buddhism, it is possible to achieve nibbāna by concentrating the mind towards letting go of things or matters and by exhibiting a balanced attitude. Nibbāna is a supreme phenomenon which will manifest itself without conditional phenomena.
In the end, Buddhadhamma is supremely limitless, stereotype-less, and nameless. It is never about what a single person accomplished a few thousand years ago, but rather about the way to spiritual liberation. In other words, it is about direct experience, recognition and liberation, not the blind obsession of Buddhism, which ultimately leads to spiritual imprisonment. Therefore, embracing neutrality is the key to the ultimate discovery of truth.
Nibbāna: How Does This Get Described?
Nibbāna is not categorically a state of paradise or a sort of celestial realm, but a completely neutralised state of things. This contrasts with the conventional phenomenon of conditionality. Basically, in deep meditation, there would be a slower process of becoming with the vibrating energy stretching away from the central point of the source at a slower pace. As the process of becoming ceases, so does the energy. It’s literally a frozen state of energy.
In Buddhism, the mind is the precursor to every state. During enlightenment, the complete absence of circumstances is realised by the mind, which is akin to a state of equilibrium. This is also called full neutralisation of conditional phenomena. But absence does not mean nothingness, it means no-thingness. Ultimately, the lack of vibration would halt the process of becoming and the mental consciousness. The following principle applies: -
No-thing would mean no becoming,
No becoming would mean no suffering,
No suffering would mean no mind,
No mind would be a complete neutrality,
and it’s called nibbāna.
Does No-thing Exist?
If we were to divide the word “nothing”, it would become two words: “no and thing”. Literally, no-thing signifies a lack in the process of becoming. When a person goes into deep meditation, the process of becoming slows, that is, the energy moves away from the central point of the source at a slower pace. As the process of becoming ceases, the energy also ceases to vibrate. This means it just froze, namely the cessation of any changing activity. When the total lack of circumstances is achieved, it is known as a blown-off state of things. Hence, absence is not about nothingness, but rather about no-thingness. The following principle is applicable: -
No-thing would mean no becoming,
No changing would mean no suffering,
No suffering would mean no mind,
No mind would mean no existence.
The mind is the forerunner of every state: no mind would mean a fully neutralised state of affairs, which means no-thing.
Kamma-vipaka
In Buddhism, kamma is described as a volitional activity, while vipaka refers to its later outcome. This means that there is a deliberate action that provokes a powerful reaction. To better understand kamma-vipaka, it is necessary to study the mind as it is a forerunner of all states. By nature, the mind is a pattern of consciousness composed of a combination of dominant and subtle aspects. The dominant mental consciousness is like a controlling mind that can direct and convey action; unlike the subtle mental consciousness that looks like a herd of wild horses that wander instinctively.
For general comprehension, the dominant mental consciousness is a prerequisite to kamma-vipaka, otherwise the so-called volition would cease to exist. That is to say, any thought or action involving the dominant mental consciousness would be sensitive to kamma-vipaka influences. It is because volitional human thought or action would produce the most powerful vibration that permeates all time, space, and attracts that which is desired or wished for. Just like swelling large waves with huge energy would produce a visible and lasting implication for the environment.
At the end of the day, favourable energies attract favourable energies and vice versa. In Buddhism, the human world is a central plane for kamma-vipaka because of the presence of dominant and subtle mental consciousnesses. The means of initiation of new volitional kamma arises in the human domain if compared with other fields of existence. As such, it is imperative that we nurture the innate mental consciousness while living in the human domain. It is because our next phase of existence resides in the tendencies of today’s mental consciousness.
Everything Is One And One Is The Whole
Through direct experience, we know that humans and things cause pleasure, pain, and that they can help and hurt. Hence, the phenomena definitely exist, but the question is how? The fact is that they do not exist in their own quality, but only have an existence that depends on many factors, including a consciousness that conceptualises them. Simply put, a cause is never sufficient to produce an effect. A cause must, at the same time, be an effect, and each effect must be the cause of something else as well.
In dependent nature, we know something that is always constant, which is the process of becoming. It would then evoke the energy that is just the vibrant space. Fundamentally, the alternating motion of the opposing forces would generate a continuum of the wavy model swinging back and forth. It is for this reason that activities fluctuate infinitely. Indeed, one could acquire new knowledge about Mother Nature by understanding the characteristics of energy.
At the end of the day, we could witness the duality or multiplicity of circumstances as simple side effects of vibratory energy. It is similar to a single gravity pendulum in play, that is to say a weight suspended from a hinge that could swing freely when moved laterally from its equilibrium position to rest. This means that all phenomena, the subject-object relationships, are created as continually convoluted existences rather than as discrete units.
Memory And Its Significance
In psychology, memory is the ability of an organism to store, remember, and recall information and experiences. At a basic level, it can be categorised into dominant and subtle aspects. Dominant memory is also known as working memory; a short-term memory that arises in conjunction with the dominant mental consciousness and physical body or, more specifically, the brain. While subtle memory is a long-term or indefinite storage and it springs up with subtle mental consciousness. Let’s analyse the cycle of Dependent Origination, as follows: -
Equanimity leads to stability. Stability leads to aggregation. Aggregation leads to agitation. Agitation leads to information. Information leads to knowledge. Knowledge leads to representation. Representation leads to memory. Memory leads to compulsion. Compulsion leads to ignorance. Ignorance leads to blindness. Blindness leads to disorientation. Disorientation leads to confusion. Confusion leads to irrationality. Irrationality leads to impulse. Impulse leads to sparkling. Sparkling leads to inkling. Inkling leads to volition. Volition leads to awareness. Awareness leads to consciousness. Consciousness leads to manas. Manas leads to mind and body. Mind and body lead to sensation. Sensation leads to six sense bases. Six sense bases lead to conductivity, etc.
Typically, each existence consists of three basic elements, namely energy, matter, and space. These elements would be subject to the cyclical influence of equilibrium and imbalances. The applicable principle: under balanced phenomena, the basic elements would intertwine through the process of aggregation, while it would dissociate through the processes of segregation under unbalanced phenomena. During aggregation, certain information would be generated, stored, and recalled into the integrated elements. This is critical for the evolution of consciousness in dependent nature.
For general comprehension, memory has two basic functions, namely information deposits and retrievals. These are the undertakings to preserve and recall the facts. For example, ice, water, and steam appear differently depending on the orientation of H2O properties. Without a subtle recollection of their respective shapes, iterations of ice, water, and steam would be impossible. Besides, the memory would support with kamma seeds and fruits. Without memory, the law of kamma would not be possible due to the lack of the process of becoming into all beings or things.
What Is The Law of Attraction: Like Attracts Like?
As the proverb says, “He looks like me, sounds like me, but even so, it’s not me”. In general, like is equal to similar; it is not equal to identical, that is, exactly similar. This means that the expression “like attracts like” is not at all about a connection between two or more objects or matter that would denote the same features. Consider both sides of Mother Nature below: -
Both Sides To Mother Nature
Facet 1 Facet 2
… (-2+2) + (-16+16) + (-22+22) + (-133+133) + (0) + (-54+54) …, etc. = 0
Key: -
... + (-2+2) + (-54+54) + ... = this arising, that arises.
... + (0) + ... = this ceasing, that ceases.
( .... ) = the law of balancing.
-2+2 or -133+133 = the law of attraction.
Ultimately, the law of attraction refers to the same quantum of objects or quantity of matters, but with a different direction and chronology, namely a vector quantity. For example, the results of things that one has done will someday have an effect on the person who started the events, as the saying goes, “What goes around, comes around”.
Electric Charge
The electric charge is the physical property of matter and it is a scalar quantity. In general, positively charged atoms are repelled from other positively charged atoms, but attracted to negatively charged atoms; negatively charged atoms are repelled from negative and attracted to positive. This means that any substance having the same characteristics would repel each other and that any substance having complementary characteristics would attract each other. Let’s look at the illustrative mathematical equation below: -
(-2+2) + (-16+16) + (-133+133) + (0) + (-54+54) = 0
Indirectly,
1. (-2+2) repels (-16+16), (-16+16) repels (-133+133), (-133+133) repels (-54+54), etc.
2. -2 attracts +2, -16 attracts +16, -133 attracts +133, -54 attracts +54, etc.
What Is Science?
Science is all about observable facts. And observable facts are observable facts because it doesn’t matter who experiences or measures. By the way, who observes and interprets? It is the observer’s mind as a non-physical faculty integrating with the five physical faculties, namely, eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and body. In other words, the observable facts depend on the mind of the beholder for the description, definition, recognition, or evaluation oF the other side of the object or matter. For this reason, it is also known as subjective facts.
Future Reality
The future reality is only a triumphant expression of vibrational frequency competitions in Mother Nature. For general comprehension, frequency is described as the speed at which something occurs or repeats in a given period of time. This means that the responsibility for the future reality lies with the party that asserts it, namely the respective traits of consciousness. Just like competing and growing seeds where any gardener who becomes the first person to turn the dormant seed into a living thing would win the race. This means that the future reality is all about infinite possibilities and it is navigated in the present condition only.
Regarding beginning-less, the problem is positing a first cause. In your model, what is the very first cause of phenomena to come into balance? In terms of the material universe, what is the first cause for the start of the universe, or how does something arise from nothing?
The iterations of birth, life, death, and rebirth in Mother Nature are due to its relevance to inherent existence and anything inherently existing would not imply any change. In Buddhism, dependent nature is referred to as samsāra, which is a continuous stream. This means that there are iterations of fluctuating activities according to conditional phenomena. As such, it is not correct to construct Mother Nature’s narratives from a series of linear events. In conventional reality, all things or matters will coexist in interdependence through a complex network of existence. This means that no primary cause or effect can be detected in the dependent nature. Rather, all things or matters are interdependent co-occurring.
Meanwhile, in the material universe, there are many existences that are indistinguishable to our bare eyes. But we know one thing that is constant is this process of becoming. It is the underlying element of all the things or events that we could observe here and now. With the process to become, there would be a process in evolution, namely, there would be some circumstance that would form some kind of capability known as energy. This is something that has always been there and has been consistent with the Energy Conservation Law. Ultimately, the first existence since the dawn of time would be the first cause of dependent nature.
In addition, something like the object does not derive from nothing, but rather from the energy that exists in a system. It’s because energy and matter are just two aspects of one thing; the two are reflected under different forms, according to the Einstein formula, E = mc2. And since we are unable to discern energy with our bare eyes, we would call it empty rather than nothing. At the end of the day, any event that occurs, consciously or unconsciously, is only a continuum of energy flowing through the cosmos. It is hard for anyone to see into that ultimate truth because the mind is dependent. Therefore, in order to discover the true nature of everything, one should not conceptualise anything.
Can you explain more about what you mean here about the dawn of time and the first cause? Earlier you said that energy and emptiness don’t have a beginning. There is a logical problem with positing a first cause. I don’t really understand what your view is here?
Time is an indicator of the event and the dawn of time signifies the first phase in the process of becoming. And since the process of becoming is beginning-less, its oldest phase would be itself. Ultimately, it corresponds with the inherent existence because of its unchanging nature.
Phenomena appear to ascend or are perceived by our senses to arise within themselves, but they are not. All phenomena, including emptiness, are dependent. It does not exist in an intrinsic way like this or that on their own sides, unrelated to the consciousness that perceives them. With regard to existence, that which exists is defined as that which may be known by the mind or otherwise, it does not exist. By convention, things can exist within the confines of the mind as fallacy or reality.
For example, in a room, there are two individuals, namely Individual A (Mind A) and Individual B (Mind B). Let’s say Individual A is holding a ball that is concealed from Individual B. In this case, the ball exists in the room because it is already known to Individual A (Mind A). However, there is no ball in the room if you ask Individual B (Mind B). Ultimately, it is the mental consciousness itself that is responsible for the development of the phenomenon or existence. The following principle applies: -
Without mental consciousness, no phenomenon would take place,
Without the phenomenon, there would be no dependency.
Vipassanā Meditation: To See Things As They Really Are
The purpose of vipassanā meditation is only to model the mind to see all that it really is. In other words, the mind would enter into full observation (mindfulness) without identifying the stream of thought until the pure awareness is fulfilled. Let’s see the illustrations below: -
Microscopic Analysis Of The Object (Solid Ball)
By zooming in, you could see what was in the core of the solid ball, the atoms. But there was nothing to discover apart from the vibrant space. In the end, this observation would give way to the emptiness of the substance.
Macroscopic Analysis Of The Object (Solid Ball)
As you zoom out, the solid ball seems to shrink to the smallest possible size. In the end, such a finding would also give way to the emptiness of the substance.
The above analysis has revealed that the emptiness of phenomena is the cause and consequence of the dependent nature of phenomena. This is the inherent nature of existence and is seen as the ultimate reality because it exists inherently right as it is perceived directly by the enlightened mind.
Kamma And Wishes
In Buddhism, kamma refers to volitional action, but by definition, it means action. Therefore, to have a glimpse of kamma and its consequences (kamma-vipāka), it is vital to understand the laws of motion. Let us consider Newton’s laws of motion as shown below: -
1st Law Of Motion
Every object in a coherent state of motion tends to remain in this state of movement unless an external force is applied.
2nd Law Of Motion
It has to do with the relationship between the mass of an object, its acceleration, and the applied force. Under this law, the direction of the force vector is identical to the direction of the acceleration vector.
3rd Law Of Motion
Every action leads to an equal and opposing reaction.
In a nutshell, Newton’s third law of motion would fall into constant motion. This means that we can assume that the incoming factor is the same as the becoming factor. However, the opposing forces would indicate a single harmonising mechanism under a variable motion, as shown below: -
Scenario 1 - Acceleration
When the incoming factor accelerates, the relative becoming factor decelerates: -
Force A incoming↑ Force A becoming↓
For example, a twin who flies off in a spaceship travelling near the speed of light and comes back to find out her twin is a lot older. That’s because the twin inside the spaceship would meet the deceleration process of becoming. It describes time dilation based on Einstein’s special theory of relativity.
Scenario 2 - Deceleration
When the incoming factor decelerates, the relative becoming factor accelerates: -
Force A incoming↓ Force A becoming↑
For example, if the speed of the car drops, it is literally decelerating; mathematically, it is an acceleration in the opposite direction to that of motion and vice versa. This scenario also explains why the process of recovering people would accelerate after taking a cool vacation.
For the general understanding, human thoughts are cosmic waves of energy that pervade all time, space, and it is the most powerful vibration that can attract what is desired or wished for. This means we attract what we send (like draws like) but the timeline for the end result always depends on the performer’s skills. Given this, every desire for happiness and well-being of oneself and others must be carried out in a meditative state with full concentration and awareness, that is, in a slow-paced recitation. It is mainly a question of using deceleration factors to accelerate the final result.
In Buddhism, the mettā bhavana (cultivation of loving-kindness) is regarded as one of the powerful antidotes to relieve immeasurable suffering in samsāra. It is a potent antidote that accelerates the realisation of emptiness and the enlightenment of individuals. Ultimately, all wishes should be expressed not only in a clear and slow discrete tempo, but also in full concentration and mindfulness. This allows you to gain insight into immediate outcomes. Unfortunately, most people don’t always get what they want, primarily because of improper enforcement.
Understanding Of Dependent Origination
In Buddhism, Dependent Origination is referred to as a principle of interrelated causality. It explicates that all phenomenal existences are products of the proper combination of causes and conditions. Each of the causes would need other causes to be present together with their respective conditions. Let’s look at these causal relationships: -
Equanimity (E0) leads to stability. Stability leads to aggregation. Aggregation leads to agitation. Agitation leads to information. Information leads to knowledge. Knowledge leads to representation. Representation leads to memory. Memory leads to compulsion. Compulsion leads to ignorance. Ignorance leads to blindness. Blindness leads to disorientation. Disorientation leads to confusion. Confusion leads to irrationality. Irrationality leads to impulse. Impulse leads to sparkling. Sparkling leads to inkling. Inkling leads to volition. Volition leads to awareness. Awareness leads to consciousness. Consciousness leads to manas. Manas leads to mind and body. Mind and body lead to sensation. Sensation leads to six sense bases. Six sense bases lead to conductivity. Conductivity leads to contact. Contact leads to stimulation. Stimulation leads to feeling. Feeling leads to experience. Experience leads to craving. Craving leads to grasping. Grasping leads to clinging. Clinging leads to unsettling. Unsettling leads to becoming. Becoming leads to creation. Creation leads to birth. Birth leads to energising. Energising leads to mobility. Mobility leads to hauling. Hauling leads to aging. Aging leads to draining. Draining leads to death. Death leads to fragility. Fragility leads to segregation. Segregation leads to diffusion. Diffusion leads to discomposure. Discomposure leads to adjustment. Adjustment leads to alignment. Alignment leads to equanimity (E1).
In the dependent nature, everything is a matrix of everything and all things or matters are interdependently co-arising. As such, it is essential to see the Dependent Origination in a correct perspective that does not build narratives out of a series of linear events. In conventional reality, all things will co-exist interdependently across a complex web of existence.
Cause And Condition
To be honest, any phenomenal existence is the product of the right combination of causes and conditions. For example, in the yin-yang philosophy, our body consists of the combination of the four major elements of earth, water, fire, and wind. If some of these elements are not in an orderly orientation, physically we would be taken ill. Ultimately, the four major elements may be characterised as the causes, while the harmonious orientation between these elements constituted the conditions. The following principle applies: -
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’s out there comes from various causes and conditions. Each case would require other causes to be present and their respective conditions. Just like for a new home to exist, we need bricks, cement, wood, iron bars, roof tiles, plastic hoses, and other materials. Construction can only be completed if all essential materials are available and all prerequisites are met, such as workers’ skills, time allocation, etc. The chain of links: wood needs forest, sunlight, rain, etc., and workers need their parents, food, clothing, shelter, etc.
Through contemplation, we would realise that everything in the cosmos is attributed to the existence of the new home; without it, the new home would be impossible. This means that no single cause is ever sufficient to produce an effect. A cause should simultaneously be an effect, and every effect should also be the cause of something else. In other words, the cause-effect relationship is just two sides of the same thing. Ultimately, all things or matters in the cosmos are interdependent co-arising infinitely. The following principle is applicable: -
Cause 1 evokes Effect 1,
Effect 1 evokes Cause 1-1,
Cause 1-1 evokes Effect 1-1,
Effect 1-1 evokes Cause 1-1-1,
etc.
Time Travel Through Wormholes
A wormhole is viewed as a portal for different planes of existence. First, the object or matter has to be within the subject’s frequency horizon; without it, observation would be impossible. This means that all existences with higher vibrational frequencies would be capable of discerning other existences with lower vibrational frequencies and not the other way around. For example, time travel could happen within the human domain and it is commonly known as trance. In trances, we can ask the different spirits to guide us and the innate mental consciousness of the medium is the gateway to such spiritual communication.
Seeking Truth
In general, the truth comes out of you because “you are the truth”. It means you’re making truths and not someone else. Literally, it’s hard for a person to see the truth because “their eyes couldn’t see their own eyes”. For example, ducks and cattle are two created truths. Indeed, such truth is known as conventional truth. It is a subjective-cum-relative truth and the final conclusion varies from one observer to another.
For example, if you had to show an iPhone to a caveman, he would describe it as a worthless hard object. And if you show it to an ant, then it becomes a huge, heavy item. Likewise, in respective circumstances, you can be named as a son, a father, a preacher, a student, a Caucasian, an American, a skinny man, an old man, a stranger, and so on. Ultimately, the observer will provide the recognition according to his or her respective perceptions.
Meanwhile, for one who believes in the existence of God as the creator of the universe, every life in the cosmos would rise and fall into God’s kingdom. This means that all beings or things are the essential constituents of God and realising the whole perspective of Mother Nature is what enlightenment is about in Buddhism. It is regarded as the zenith of all phenomena with the attributes of emptiness, that is, the supreme state of all things.
For a theist, this phenomenon is also called the Supreme One or God. That is the most profound fact where nothing can be recognised beyond its periphery. In the final analysis, there are two sides to truth: conventional truth and ultimate truth. Before expressing one’s viewpoint, it is imperative to side with the truth, respectively. Nonetheless, to see the truth can be simple and straightforward.
Buddhadhamma: Embracing Neutrality
For general understanding, Buddha’s teaching is not a restricted path dedicated to the select few. Precisely, Buddhadhamma (Buddha’s teachings) is merely about direct experience by yourself and nothing else. It’s in the air that you breathe, in the things that you feel or touch, it’s just all over the cosmos. Hence, it is universal and applicable to all beings or things, independently of the planes of existence.
Meanwhile, the original teaching of the Buddha transcended Buddhism as it is conventionally understood. The enclosed suffix -ism in this context represents adhesion to a system or class of principles as taught by the Buddha. Actually, the original context of Buddhadhamma focuses on methodology rather than on the character of an individual. This means that it lies in the direct experience of oneself, by oneself or through other means.
Furthermore, the Buddha advises his listeners not to believe what he has said until we investigate it. It is to keep the original essence of Buddhadhamma intact and timeless. In Buddhism, it is possible to achieve nibbāna by concentrating the mind towards letting go of things or matters and by exhibiting a balanced attitude. Nibbāna is a supreme phenomenon which will manifest itself without conditional phenomena.
In the end, Buddhadhamma is supremely limitless, stereotype-less, and nameless. It is never about what a single person accomplished a few thousand years ago, but rather about the way to spiritual liberation. In other words, it is about direct experience, recognition and liberation, not the blind obsession of Buddhism, which ultimately leads to spiritual imprisonment. Therefore, embracing neutrality is the key to the ultimate discovery of truth.
Nibbāna: How Does This Get Described?
Nibbāna is not categorically a state of paradise or a sort of celestial realm, but a completely neutralised state of things. This contrasts with the conventional phenomenon of conditionality. Basically, in deep meditation, there would be a slower process of becoming with the vibrating energy stretching away from the central point of the source at a slower pace. As the process of becoming ceases, so does the energy. It’s literally a frozen state of energy.
In Buddhism, the mind is the precursor to every state. During enlightenment, the complete absence of circumstances is realised by the mind, which is akin to a state of equilibrium. This is also called full neutralisation of conditional phenomena. But absence does not mean nothingness, it means no-thingness. Ultimately, the lack of vibration would halt the process of becoming and the mental consciousness. The following principle applies: -
No-thing would mean no becoming,
No becoming would mean no suffering,
No suffering would mean no mind,
No mind would be a complete neutrality,
and it’s called nibbāna.
Does No-thing Exist?
If we were to divide the word “nothing”, it would become two words: “no and thing”. Literally, no-thing signifies a lack in the process of becoming. When a person goes into deep meditation, the process of becoming slows, that is, the energy moves away from the central point of the source at a slower pace. As the process of becoming ceases, the energy also ceases to vibrate. This means it just froze, namely the cessation of any changing activity. When the total lack of circumstances is achieved, it is known as a blown-off state of things. Hence, absence is not about nothingness, but rather about no-thingness. The following principle is applicable: -
No-thing would mean no becoming,
No changing would mean no suffering,
No suffering would mean no mind,
No mind would mean no existence.
The mind is the forerunner of every state: no mind would mean a fully neutralised state of affairs, which means no-thing.
Kamma-vipaka
In Buddhism, kamma is described as a volitional activity, while vipaka refers to its later outcome. This means that there is a deliberate action that provokes a powerful reaction. To better understand kamma-vipaka, it is necessary to study the mind as it is a forerunner of all states. By nature, the mind is a pattern of consciousness composed of a combination of dominant and subtle aspects. The dominant mental consciousness is like a controlling mind that can direct and convey action; unlike the subtle mental consciousness that looks like a herd of wild horses that wander instinctively.
For general comprehension, the dominant mental consciousness is a prerequisite to kamma-vipaka, otherwise the so-called volition would cease to exist. That is to say, any thought or action involving the dominant mental consciousness would be sensitive to kamma-vipaka influences. It is because volitional human thought or action would produce the most powerful vibration that permeates all time, space, and attracts that which is desired or wished for. Just like swelling large waves with huge energy would produce a visible and lasting implication for the environment.
At the end of the day, favourable energies attract favourable energies and vice versa. In Buddhism, the human world is a central plane for kamma-vipaka because of the presence of dominant and subtle mental consciousnesses. The means of initiation of new volitional kamma arises in the human domain if compared with other fields of existence. As such, it is imperative that we nurture the innate mental consciousness while living in the human domain. It is because our next phase of existence resides in the tendencies of today’s mental consciousness.
Everything Is One And One Is The Whole
Through direct experience, we know that humans and things cause pleasure, pain, and that they can help and hurt. Hence, the phenomena definitely exist, but the question is how? The fact is that they do not exist in their own quality, but only have an existence that depends on many factors, including a consciousness that conceptualises them. Simply put, a cause is never sufficient to produce an effect. A cause must, at the same time, be an effect, and each effect must be the cause of something else as well.
In dependent nature, we know something that is always constant, which is the process of becoming. It would then evoke the energy that is just the vibrant space. Fundamentally, the alternating motion of the opposing forces would generate a continuum of the wavy model swinging back and forth. It is for this reason that activities fluctuate infinitely. Indeed, one could acquire new knowledge about Mother Nature by understanding the characteristics of energy.
At the end of the day, we could witness the duality or multiplicity of circumstances as simple side effects of vibratory energy. It is similar to a single gravity pendulum in play, that is to say a weight suspended from a hinge that could swing freely when moved laterally from its equilibrium position to rest. This means that all phenomena, the subject-object relationships, are created as continually convoluted existences rather than as discrete units.
Memory And Its Significance
In psychology, memory is the ability of an organism to store, remember, and recall information and experiences. At a basic level, it can be categorised into dominant and subtle aspects. Dominant memory is also known as working memory; a short-term memory that arises in conjunction with the dominant mental consciousness and physical body or, more specifically, the brain. While subtle memory is a long-term or indefinite storage and it springs up with subtle mental consciousness. Let’s analyse the cycle of Dependent Origination, as follows: -
Equanimity leads to stability. Stability leads to aggregation. Aggregation leads to agitation. Agitation leads to information. Information leads to knowledge. Knowledge leads to representation. Representation leads to memory. Memory leads to compulsion. Compulsion leads to ignorance. Ignorance leads to blindness. Blindness leads to disorientation. Disorientation leads to confusion. Confusion leads to irrationality. Irrationality leads to impulse. Impulse leads to sparkling. Sparkling leads to inkling. Inkling leads to volition. Volition leads to awareness. Awareness leads to consciousness. Consciousness leads to manas. Manas leads to mind and body. Mind and body lead to sensation. Sensation leads to six sense bases. Six sense bases lead to conductivity, etc.
Typically, each existence consists of three basic elements, namely energy, matter, and space. These elements would be subject to the cyclical influence of equilibrium and imbalances. The applicable principle: under balanced phenomena, the basic elements would intertwine through the process of aggregation, while it would dissociate through the processes of segregation under unbalanced phenomena. During aggregation, certain information would be generated, stored, and recalled into the integrated elements. This is critical for the evolution of consciousness in dependent nature.
For general comprehension, memory has two basic functions, namely information deposits and retrievals. These are the undertakings to preserve and recall the facts. For example, ice, water, and steam appear differently depending on the orientation of H2O properties. Without a subtle recollection of their respective shapes, iterations of ice, water, and steam would be impossible. Besides, the memory would support with kamma seeds and fruits. Without memory, the law of kamma would not be possible due to the lack of the process of becoming into all beings or things.
What Is The Law of Attraction: Like Attracts Like?
As the proverb says, “He looks like me, sounds like me, but even so, it’s not me”. In general, like is equal to similar; it is not equal to identical, that is, exactly similar. This means that the expression “like attracts like” is not at all about a connection between two or more objects or matter that would denote the same features. Consider both sides of Mother Nature below: -
Both Sides To Mother Nature
Facet 1 Facet 2
… (-2+2) + (-16+16) + (-22+22) + (-133+133) + (0) + (-54+54) …, etc. = 0
Key: -
... + (-2+2) + (-54+54) + ... = this arising, that arises.
... + (0) + ... = this ceasing, that ceases.
( .... ) = the law of balancing.
-2+2 or -133+133 = the law of attraction.
Ultimately, the law of attraction refers to the same quantum of objects or quantity of matters, but with a different direction and chronology, namely a vector quantity. For example, the results of things that one has done will someday have an effect on the person who started the events, as the saying goes, “What goes around, comes around”.
Electric Charge
The electric charge is the physical property of matter and it is a scalar quantity. In general, positively charged atoms are repelled from other positively charged atoms, but attracted to negatively charged atoms; negatively charged atoms are repelled from negative and attracted to positive. This means that any substance having the same characteristics would repel each other and that any substance having complementary characteristics would attract each other. Let’s look at the illustrative mathematical equation below: -
(-2+2) + (-16+16) + (-133+133) + (0) + (-54+54) = 0
Indirectly,
1. (-2+2) repels (-16+16), (-16+16) repels (-133+133), (-133+133) repels (-54+54), etc.
2. -2 attracts +2, -16 attracts +16, -133 attracts +133, -54 attracts +54, etc.
What Is Science?
Science is all about observable facts. And observable facts are observable facts because it doesn’t matter who experiences or measures. By the way, who observes and interprets? It is the observer’s mind as a non-physical faculty integrating with the five physical faculties, namely, eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and body. In other words, the observable facts depend on the mind of the beholder for the description, definition, recognition, or evaluation oF the other side of the object or matter. For this reason, it is also known as subjective facts.
Future Reality
The future reality is only a triumphant expression of vibrational frequency competitions in Mother Nature. For general comprehension, frequency is described as the speed at which something occurs or repeats in a given period of time. This means that the responsibility for the future reality lies with the party that asserts it, namely the respective traits of consciousness. Just like competing and growing seeds where any gardener who becomes the first person to turn the dormant seed into a living thing would win the race. This means that the future reality is all about infinite possibilities and it is navigated in the present condition only.
Regarding beginning-less, the problem is positing a first cause. In your model, what is the very first cause of phenomena to come into balance? In terms of the material universe, what is the first cause for the start of the universe, or how does something arise from nothing?
The iterations of birth, life, death, and rebirth in Mother Nature are due to its relevance to inherent existence and anything inherently existing would not imply any change. In Buddhism, dependent nature is referred to as samsāra, which is a continuous stream. This means that there are iterations of fluctuating activities according to conditional phenomena. As such, it is not correct to construct Mother Nature’s narratives from a series of linear events. In conventional reality, all things or matters will coexist in interdependence through a complex network of existence. This means that no primary cause or effect can be detected in the dependent nature. Rather, all things or matters are interdependent co-occurring.
Meanwhile, in the material universe, there are many existences that are indistinguishable to our bare eyes. But we know one thing that is constant is this process of becoming. It is the underlying element of all the things or events that we could observe here and now. With the process to become, there would be a process in evolution, namely, there would be some circumstance that would form some kind of capability known as energy. This is something that has always been there and has been consistent with the Energy Conservation Law. Ultimately, the first existence since the dawn of time would be the first cause of dependent nature.
In addition, something like the object does not derive from nothing, but rather from the energy that exists in a system. It’s because energy and matter are just two aspects of one thing; the two are reflected under different forms, according to the Einstein formula, E = mc2. And since we are unable to discern energy with our bare eyes, we would call it empty rather than nothing. At the end of the day, any event that occurs, consciously or unconsciously, is only a continuum of energy flowing through the cosmos. It is hard for anyone to see into that ultimate truth because the mind is dependent. Therefore, in order to discover the true nature of everything, one should not conceptualise anything.
Can you explain more about what you mean here about the dawn of time and the first cause? Earlier you said that energy and emptiness don’t have a beginning. There is a logical problem with positing a first cause. I don’t really understand what your view is here?
Time is an indicator of the event and the dawn of time signifies the first phase in the process of becoming. And since the process of becoming is beginning-less, its oldest phase would be itself. Ultimately, it corresponds with the inherent existence because of its unchanging nature.