Wisdom of Buddhism - Issue 3

In Buddhism, causation is a fundamental concept that is also known as the law of cause and effect. Simply put, every act brings about a certain result or consequence. As such, everything that exists or happens has a preceding cause and a set of conditions that makes it happen. The coming and going of cause and conditions, it follows, creates an endless cycle that gives rise to all the phenomena in the world. If we take a closer look at one particular section in this cycle, we will be able to see how “cause and effect” works.

Let’s consider these examples: I don’t put on winter clothes when it’s freezing, so I catch a cold. Someone steals from a store and is sent to jail. These are the work of cause and effect. However, we shouldn’t assume that “going to jail” is the end of this story. If this person is unable to find a job because of his criminal record, then “going to jail” becomes the cause of his unemployment. Without a job, this person may want to try his luck at the lottery, or become a thief again. Causation therefore is a continuous cycle.

Another characteristic of causation is that it appears in a myriad of forms and is never constant. While it is shaped by our thoughts and actions, our thoughts and actions are also conditioned by our emotions and circumstances. Here we may want to ask: why is our behavior influenced by emotions and circumstances? The answer is desire. Whenever we want to satisfy our desire, we will be influenced by our emotions and the environment around us. This brings us back to the question of human nature, or the relationship between the universe and our existence.

As we have discussed before, the universe and our existence are interrelated. First of all, the universe is a holistic system consisting of both spirit and material matter. These two elements are constantly interacting with each other so that when one changes, the other will react. As we are part of this universe, our thoughts and actions (as manifestations of our existence) are naturally a product of this system of spirit and matter. To go one step further, we have to consider the origin of thought. To some people, thought is just something we are born with. However, do we have thoughts out of nothing? If the answer is “no”, then there must be a source or origin from which thought arises. Where does it come from? How does it happen? What are the necessary conditions that give rise to thought? Is it spirit or matter? What is the origin of spirit? And what is the origin of matter? At this stage, let’s just say that all this belongs to the concept of the “oneness of mind and matter” in Buddhism, which we will further explore as we go along.

At the beginning, I talked about the law of causation as a continuous cycle of causes and effects. More precisely, every phenomenon can be dissected into three phases, that is, cause, conditions, and effect. In other words, we are talking about why something happens, the contributing factors or circumstances that make it happen, and the result. If we understand how cause, condition, and effect work, then whatever that happens is not an isolated phenomenon, but the outcome of a multitude of interconnected phenomena.

Let’s use a simple example to illustrate how phenomena can be understood as a relationship of cause, conditions, and effect. To grow a watermelon, we need the seed. The seed is the “cause” of a watermelon. Once the cause is present, it needs the necessary “conditions”, that is, sunlight, water, air, soil, and human labor, to grow and bear fruit. The fruit therefore is the “effect”.

Here, it is important to note that by “conditions” I mean what is still on-going in the present, while “effect” refers to the outcome at a particular cross-section in time. For example, when a farmer puts a watermelon seed into a bottle, this action can be seen as creating a certain “condition” for the watermelon at a certain point in time. From a different angle, the farmer’s putting the seed into a bottle can be seen as the “effect” of his lack of time to work the land. One day, when the seed is planted into the soil, his effort will bear fruit under good conditions, that is, the presence of sunlight, water, air, and human labor. Whether the fruit is of high quality or not, in turn, depends on the quality of the seed. If the seed is of low quality, good conditions alone cannot guarantee the quality of the fruit. Likewise, high quality seeds are not a guarantee of good harvest if the necessary conditions are absent. We must therefore understand the dynamic inter-relatedness of cause, conditions, and effect that exists in all phenomena.

The above example shows that when a good cause comes under bad or adverse conditions, the outcome will be compromised. Of course, reality is far more complex than a watermelon seed. An action taken in Hong Kong may have an effect in America! What we need to bear in mind is that “cause, conditions, and effect” are interrelated to generate a series of phenomena. This is called “collective karma”. Inter-relatedness means that any cause, condition, or effect is connected to other causes, conditions, and effects. In Buddhism, all phenomena are interconnected. It is a fundamental principle in Buddhist cosmology. (In Sanskrit, karma means the totality of action or deed and the consequences.)

Some people think that Buddhism is a passive belief. They are judging from the surface, without really understanding its principles and philosophy. Such an assumption itself is superstition – believing without truly understanding.

If you truly understand the Buddhist concept of causation, you will know that Buddhism is a very positive and proactive religion. The law of cause and effect is not about passively accepting whatever that is predestined. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of making the best effort in the present moment and a readiness to accept the outcome, whether it is good or bad. The Buddhist precept, “living in the present moment”, means getting rid of worries about personal gain and loss in the past, present and future. It is the “here and now” that needs our full attention.

Let’s consider the law of cause and effect again: how does causation affect us if we live only in the “here and now”? Since we all exist in a complex and interconnected realm of cause and effect, our actions inevitably will trigger repercussions in the world around us. What has been done cannot be undone, so we must face the consequences of our actions. “Living in the present moment” therefore implies a very positive and realistic approach to life. If cause is unchangeable, then what we can do is to face the consequences and try our best to make good what has been done wrong. Just as the Buddha says, “Be at ease with conditions and be perceptive”. However, any such effort will be futile if we are motivated by self-interest instead of genuinely accepting the consequences.

Let’s consider this example: You hit someone some time ago and now this person is seeking revenge. How will you respond? If you really want to make peace, you have to understand that this is a condition created by your past action. You should accept the consequence and show your true repentance with a sincere apology, or even let that person hit you back in return. Make sure you won’t have hard feelings afterwards, for hard feelings are a sign of non-acceptance and reluctance to take responsibility. This is the meaning of “be at ease with conditions and be perceptive.”

Since we have planted so many “seeds” in the past, what can we do to turn “bad seeds” into good harvests in an ever-changing world? We certainly cannot rely on one single solution, but the key is always there, that is, to let go of our attachments and emotions. To be able to adjust our emotions makes it easier to maintain a clear and open mind. If we can put aside desire, aversion, and delusion, and let go of our self-interest, our lives will change for the better. Being completely at ease with conditions can save you a lot of troubles in life, because you can react to any unpleasant situation with perfect calm and composure, with humility and a willingness to take responsibility without hard feelings. If we are truly at ease under all circumstances, it would be difficult for others not to let go or hold back their hard feelings toward us.

All the phenomena in this world are a combination of cause, conditions, and effect. An apparently unimportant action by an ordinary person may have repercussions beyond our imagination. Just as a blade of grass can make a difference to a whole plot of land, trivial matters can escalate into wars and conflicts. This is how causation works.