This week’s topic for refection is cause and effect. We all know the law of cause and effect, for every cause there is an effect. In Buddhism it is said every action effects everything everywhere. This is simply because nothing is separate or isolated. It’s our thinking and the conceptual world we project that creates this sense of separate things and separation. I view cause and effect as an ever changing situation that we’re involved in. To understand cause and effect, it is also essential to understand time. Our conceptual world is based on a belief in linear time with a past, present and future. A cause happens first which is followed by an effect. We add a narrative explaining why this happened but all activity only happens in the present moment. And what is this moment? is it possible to isolate this precise moment? This moment is ungraspable. Dogen calls this “being time.” Being time is timeless, boundless and free. It’s another example of emptiness. Cause and effect is the functioning of phenomena in this selfless moment.
Cause and effect is not something inherently tight or rigid. It’s flexible and continuously changing with room for spontaneity. It can be and is actually always being influenced. Even small choices make a difference. For example add a small smile right now and see what changes.
Please join us on Zoom for morning zazen from 7:00 to 7:30 Tuesday and Thursday, in person Zen meditation in Eugene Saturday morning at the McNail-Riley house from 9:00 to 11:00 and Sunday morning Zoom zazen and discussion from 8:00 to 9:00 Pacific Time. Here’s the Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 811 6100 3357
Passcode: 278259
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