Everything Matters

 

One of the problems of teaching Dharma int the United States is that not many people here actually speak English. They speak something similar to but not precisely like English. Let’s look at the word “meaning,” for example. As a noun it ought to have the definition of what is meant by a word, text, concept, or action. But as an adjective it refers to intended to communicate something that is not directly expressed.

To say something has meaning is to say it has importance, consequence, moment, weight, significance mean a quality or aspect having great worth or significance. Importance may also imply a value judgment of the superior worth or influence of something or someone. To say that something has no meaning is an attempt to negate the experience of someone’s experience. In the reality of life, nothing is more important or less significant than anything else. Everything has the right to be simply because it does, conditions support the existence of a thought, a word, or an action, giving it the right to be. Whatever is exists as a significant part of the totality of existence. In other words, everything matters — the trivial as well as the monumental. Hence we find the expression, “Nothing sacred, nothing Profane” in several Buddhist schools of thought. 

In Buddhism, the concept of subjective value judgments is closely related to the teaching of non-attachment and the understanding of the impermanence and interconnectedness of all things. Buddhism emphasizes cultivating a clear and unbiased mind, free from excessive attachment, aversion, and ignorance.

Buddhism acknowledges that individuals have preferences, opinions, and subjective experiences, but it encourages practitioners to recognize these judgments as impermanent and conditioned by various factors such as personal biases, past experiences, cultural influences, and emotional states. The ultimate aim is to develop a deep understanding that these subjective value judgments are not absolute or inherently real. Just because you see no value in an event doesn’t mean that value is existent, at least for someone. Just because you think you have had a profound epiphany doesn’t necessarily mean anyone else in the universe necessarily grasps the significance you have given it. 

According to Buddhist teachings, clinging to subjective value judgments can lead to suffering. When we strongly attach ourselves to our preferences and judgments, we become bound by them and create attachments, desires, and aversions. These attachments can cause dissatisfaction, conflicts, and a sense of separateness from others. This feeling of separateness from the reality in which we live is tantamount to a Buddhist “original sin” since it ignores the basic foundation of al existence — everything is connected. It is impossible to be separate from people, places, things, or events. In one religion there is the understanding that”sin” is “separation from God.” If God exists it is impossible to be separated from it, especially since it is said God is everywhere in all things — but then, so is everything else. 

Buddhism suggests that cultivating mindfulness, wisdom, and compassion can help us transcend the limitations of subjective value judgments. By developing awareness of our thoughts, emotions, and judgments as they arise, we can gain insight into their impermanent and conditioned nature. Through meditation and contemplation, practitioners aim to cultivate a non-attached and equanimous mind, able to observe and understand subjective value judgments without becoming entangled in them.

In essence, Buddhism encourages individuals to approach subjective value judgments with mindfulness, awareness, and non-attachment. By recognizing their impermanence and conditioned nature, we can reduce the suffering caused by attachment to these judgments and cultivate a more compassionate and inclusive perspective.

In Buddhism, the teachings of emptiness (Shunyata) and dependent origination (Pratityasamutpada) are fundamental concepts that shed light on the nature of reality and the interconnectedness of all phenomena.

Emptiness refers to the idea that all phenomena lack inherent, independent existence or self-nature. It emphasizes that nothing exists in isolation or as a fixed, unchanging entity. Instead, all things and experiences are interdependent and arise in dependence on causes and conditions. Emptiness does not imply that things are non-existent but rather that they lack inherent, intrinsic existence.

Dependent origination elucidates the concept of causality and interdependence. It states that all phenomena arise in dependence on multiple causes and conditions. Nothing exists independently or in isolation; everything is influenced by a web of interconnected factors. This interdependent nature extends to our thoughts, words, and actions as well.

When we understand the teachings of emptiness and dependent origination, we realize that our thoughts, words, and actions are not isolated events but are intricately connected to the world around us. Every thought we have, every word we speak, and every action we take ripples through the interconnected fabric of existence, influencing ourselves and others in various ways.

Buddhism teaches that our thoughts, speech, and actions have consequences, known as karma. Karma is the law of cause and effect, suggesting that our intentional actions, whether thoughts, words, or deeds, shape our present and future experiences. Positive actions based on wisdom, compassion, and skillful means lead to positive outcomes, while negative actions rooted in ignorance, greed, and aversion generate negative outcomes.

In this sense, Buddhism teaches that everything we think, say, or do matters because it has the potential to create positive or negative effects, both for ourselves and for others. Our thoughts, words, and actions can contribute to the well-being and happiness of beings or perpetuate suffering and discord.

Understanding the interconnectedness and interdependence of all phenomena, Buddhism encourages individuals to cultivate awareness, mindfulness, and ethical conduct. By cultivating wholesome thoughts, engaging in compassionate speech, and performing skillful actions, we can contribute positively to our own well-being and the well-being of others.

Everything we think, say, or do matters because our thoughts, speech, and actions are interconnected with the world around us. Through the teachings of emptiness and dependent origination, Buddhism emphasizes the importance of cultivating positive intentions and engaging in skillful actions to promote harmony, well-being, and liberation from suffering.

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