Has anyone seen the program “Touch” on Fox Network? It appears to dramatize the strange kind of causality sometimes referred to as Ripple Effect; which is sometimes connected with Synchronicity. In the story, a mute boy has the ability to see the past and present — and predict the future — in terms of repeating patterns of numbers. Well, something like that. Others, such as the ‘Invisible Prince’, who appears in the third episode, might ‘see’ the same thing(s) in terms of visual imagery. At any rate, the boy’s father, played by Kiefer Sutherland, is trying to figure out what is going on with his son. In the process, numerical clues provided by the boy enable his father to intervene in the lives of inter-connected strangers and prevent multiple unhappy outcomes. So far, the show is not what I would call exceptionally well done. However, the topic is both intriguing and fraught with difficulty.
Buddhism has the concept of paticcasamuppada / pratityasamutpada 緣起 ; which is translated variously as conditioned genesis, dependent co-arising, and interdependent arising. From this, is derived dvadasa-ashtanga pratītyasamutpada or dvadasa-nidana十二因緣 ; the 12 linked chain of causation.
Tiantai and Nichiren Buddhism teach the concept of Ichinen Sanzen 一念三千 ; which reduces the universe to a single thought-moment: eka-kshana or eka-cittatpatika 一念 or 發意頃 .
Sometimes I see everything as recurring patterns, with variations on themes; which we are part of and influence, not just through physical deeds, but also through the power of mind or citta niyama. Some themes are harmonious and beautiful, others not so much. We can help change the latter by exercising our minds; by cultivating wholesome and constructive motivations; thereby generating healthy vibrations. Or we can allow existing patterns to condition us.
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
~~ Chorus from The Grateful Dead song “Ripple”(lyrics by Robert Hunter)
