When we look at something, it has billions of years’ behind its existence. Whatever you’re looking at, you see it because of the evolution of things happening from the beginning of the existence of the universe. Think of it this way: everything creates everything else.
Now consider cause and effect. For example, you enter a room, hit the switch, and the light comes on. Why? Changing the position of the switch either opens or closes an electrical current which then causes the light to go on or off. However, it is also dependent on the wire that runs from the switch to the light fixture as we discovered that copper is a good conductor of electricity. So traveling down this rabbit hole, where did the copper come from? A mine. And we had to create machines or otherwise figure out how to extract the copper from the ground. But going deeper still, where did the copper originate from? Quite possibly from an exploding star.
We can also look at the energy component of the switch and light bulb scenario. Where did the energy in your house come from? From the electrical cable connected to your house, that is then connected to the electrical substation some distance away that’s connected to the generating plant that created the electrical current in the first place. And how was that current generated? Perhaps by a spinning turbine, driven by falling water. Why is there falling water? Because of gravity. Why do we have gravity? Because the earth is a solid core spinning at 15,000 miles per hour and on and on.
I cited this example to underscore the idea that cause and effect is illusory. Regardless of the example you choose, when you continue to follow the ongoing cause and effect toward its origin, it always comes back to the fact that everything causes everything else. Everything exists because everything exists. I always want you to appreciate that your understanding of things is limited.
Most of the time, what’s unfolding in front of you is the result of trillions of actions that have previously occurred. It’s incomprehensible. The distinction I want you to grasp is not to be too attached to any outcome. The moment in front of you is unique – hasn’t happened before and won’t happen again. You can be awed and excited by the moment or pissed off about it.
Reality is what it is. It is neither for nor against you. It simply is and results from practically infinite occurrences that are impossible to comprehend.
Enter samskara – from Indian philosophy: mental impressions, recollections, or psychological imprints. It encompasses your emotions and things you like or dislike. I don’t happen to like the Prius, a car that has come into existence as a result of a gazillion things that are beyond my understanding. We all have hooks or issues with something – bad manners, spousal lack of appreciation, or a particular car or other thing – and we begin to resist the world as it’s unfolding due to an emotional hiccup. Think of samskara as the things we don’t like that we’ve internalized.
In simple English: straighten your hooks and nothing can bite you. Stop and ask, “Why is this hook causing discomfort… or pain?” In my case, why do I dislike a Prius? Honestly, the universe doesn’t care. Nor does it care what you like or dislike. Doesn’t care what causes you pain or awe and joy. It does not effect reality. Reality always unfolds as it should and will. Inside of you – your reaction – is within your control. Again, anger or awe. You may not be awed by the reality of sitting in traffic, but if you let your anger take over, it’s really kind of silly.
Our minds can move really fast to take us to a state of discontentedness. In the end, everything is made up, so the big question is: “Are you making it up in a way that serves you or are you making it up in a way that causes you discomfort, anger, or pain?” Reality is what it is, and beyond that, it’s all opinion. And that opinion is your mindset… that you control entirely.
The root of all suffering is resisting “what is.” Western culture views surrender as giving up; however, in Eastern philosophy, it means accepting what is. We tend to want to shape reality to meet our expectations, and that’s a futile exercise that leads to frustration, angst, discomfort, and pain. The more you resist, the more challenging the outcome. Stop resisting. Reality will always be what it is.
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