Mind and the external world

• Explanation of evolution of the universe
• Without a cause or random cause
• From a single cause such as a creator or a substance or an event
• Logical flaws for different considerations
• Interplay between laws of nature and law of karma and its effects
• Five specific types of causality
• Inorganic, biological, psychological, karmic, natural phenomenal
• Different stages of evolution of world systems
• Causes and conditions for occasional, gradual arising
• Views of various schools for the relationship between mind and external world

Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature 39: Mind and the External World (download)

Contemplation points

1. What are some of the beliefs about the origins of the universe? Have you held any of them? Spend some time thinking about these and use logic to examine them.
2. Consider the complexity of a simple flower coming into existence. What causes the flowers to arise and cease? Why does the flower change?
3. Causality refers to the impermanence that permeates our life and how that impermanence relates to emptiness. Make some personal examples to reflect on the following quote from the text: “When that exists, this comes to be. From the arising of that, this arises. When that does not exist, this does not come to be. When that ceases, this ceases.”
4. Venerable Chodron said that we are full of contradictions: neither believing in God nor needing to explain everything. We think we are reasonable and rational, but are resistant to causality. Why do you think this is so? Make some personal examples of this.