Over the years, life has developed a greater meaning to me as I have come to appreciate the interconnection I have with all things and people. Therefore, reading about dependent origination [as articulated by the Dalai Lama] has given me an enhanced way of viewing and understanding the nature of my reality as it coalesces with everyone else as a divine relationship. As the Dalai Lama states:
As a means to understanding this complexity, I find the concept of dependent origination (in Tibetan, Ten Del) articulated by Madhyamika (Middle Way) school of Buddhist philosophy, to be particularly helpful…We can understand how things and events come to be in three different ways. At the first level, the principle of cause and effect, whereby all things and events arise in dependence on a complex web of interrelated causes and conditions, is invoked. This suggests that no thing or event can be construed as capable of coming into or remaining in, existence by itself…
On the second level, Ten Del can be understood in terms of the mutual dependence, which exists between parts and whole. Without parts, there can be no whole; without a whole, the concept of parts makes no sense. The ideal of “whole” is predicated on parts, but these parts themselves must be considered to be wholes comprised of their own parts.
On the third level, all phenomena can be understood to be dependently originated because when we analyze them, we find that ultimately they lack independent identity” (Dalai Lama 36-37).

To see my actions cause ripple effects throughout the connections of my life (cause and effect) has been humbling. I have come to see myself as “a part of the whole” world, not isolated and apart. With this concept, I have a greater sense of connectedness to people and love for people. Martin Luther King, Jr. has provided me new language to put words to the conceptual ideas of how I feel love towards others: eros, philla, and agape (King 52).

To bring spirituality to my new found agape love of people, created a tranquil mood to my negative encounters with people. Establishing, within me, a forgiveness towards people because I can see them as children or beings of the creator (God or Goddess). Which allows me to see us as part of a complex web of interrelated causes and conditions; a part of the whole experience we call life. Each person having hopes, dreams, goals, desires, and a spiritual essence of love, kindness, and compassion.

As a people, we have a capacity for so much love towards our fellow man, it is hard to imagine what has happened to put so much distance between people. A distance that has separated our understanding of the individual person (the part) as mutually dependent on (the whole); but it has happened.

Ultimately, the cause has been one of each self-centered individual seeking the attainment of power, wealth, and status. Today, the importance of understanding the concept of dependent origination is a fact of life. As individuals continue to seek power, wealth, and status without concern for the consequences to the global community, we slowly destroy ourselves, through the interrelated causes and conditions. This occurs on the emotional, physical, and spiritual levels.

The escalation of violence throughout the world has, to some, become too large and mind-numbing to address individually. Even events like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission have healed many through forgiveness, but remain under tenuous conditions as the hope for a permanent non-violent solution continues. The ever-present fear of terrorists striking again has brought our own country into the “war on terror” and closer to so many more dead. Something must change.

The dropping of attendance within the major religious denominations continues and the social disparity between the “haves” and the “have nots” grows. These trends reflect a disruption and social move away from previously utilized paths to personal spirituality. The result of which are increases in social destruction (drugs, alcohol, crime and family dysfunction).

The solution to all these global community problems has its foundation within the concept of dependent origination. This is why this passage has so much meaning to me. It demonstrates a path to hope. Through the spiritual essence of compassion the individual will learn the consequence of cause and effect. The lives of each person in the global community will be better and fulfilling through the returns of compassion from the global community.

I see dependent orgination as a goal for all humanity to understand. That can only be done one person at a time, I can only influence one person, me. So, through my choices in life I am affecting the whole. My choice is to be as compassionate as I can in each of these choices, because I am interconnected to all.

Part II: Personal Reflections

It was during the second class when I had an “ah ha” moment. I had begun to describe the events of my life, when it became clear to me that even though I thought I had already forgiven my father for what he had done in my life, there was another level of forgiveness I needed to work on.

From as early as 4 years old I can remember my father being drunk; as the years went by a pattern of drunken outbursts occurred about once every 2 years. With each the level of violence grew (yelling, name calling, threats of violence, and physical abuse). I found “forgiveness” in my silence and hope of “it wouldn’t happen again.”

Ultimately, my mother found the courage and strength to say, “no more.” She divorced him and he moved out.

Then at 15, I came home to discover the bodies of my mother, her new boyfriend, and the unconscious body of my father. He had shot both of them and then shot himself in an attempt of suicide.

It was in this forgiveness class that I realized I had not been “forgiving” him in my childhood. I had enabled him; out of an utter sense of fear, at causing the rage to come back, I remained quiet. At that instant, I knew something was unresolved. I had removed consequence to his behavior in the false hope, “he wouldn’t do it again.”

The first issue was to reconcile the anger I had for my mother at the time of her death. I didn’t understand why she was taking my father away and was angry. It was easier to blame her for throwing my father out. I was actually afraid of change in my life, of reputation (the divorced parent’s kid) and of retribution by my father in rage. “Be ye not conformed to this world: But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)” (King, 21). Reviewing events, I now see true courage, determination, and strength my mother had to change her life and look for better. She had transformed into a non conformist; challenging the enemy, my father. Putting consequence to his actions and expressing her love of herself and me by making a stand. In this I honor her, love her, and pray for her.

Within this context, I cite, “Then said Jesus, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know now what they do.” Luke 23:34 (Ibid, 39). Which is vital to forgiving myself for succumbing to my fear as a child.

The second area unresolved is to forgive, anew, my father. “First, we must unflinchingly face our fears and honestly ask ourselves why we are afraid” (Ibid 117). As a young child I was dependent on my parents for everything, so my fears were of being rejected and losing their approval and love. Which today I recognize as a self-defeating sense of inadequacy. My imagination was defeating me.

“Second, we can master fear through one of the supreme virtues known to man: courage.” (Ibid 118). Today, I utilize courage to search my past and face the illusions of my fear, bring them to the light, and take their crippling power away.

“Third, fear is mastered through love.” (Ibid 119). Despite everything, I have always loved my father, because I have the capacity to have more than one emotion at a time. To love the person and hate the behavior. “Love casts out fear” (Ibid 121).

Through Love I have found the path to forgiving myself for my fears, and my father for his actions. Love has opened the door, for me, to experience life with a father and the embrace of my mother’s memory of strength, courage and love.

“Fourth, fear is mastered through faith.” (Ibid 122) Through the spirituality of my faith in Wiccan belief, I see that I’m not alone. A loving God/dess is there to provide wisdom, forgiveness, compassion, vitality, spirit, and above all love. The connections formed through faith are fulfilling and meaningful; providing a greater sense of being a part of the human community, finding forgiveness for myself, my father, my mother and the love of all.

Works Cited

King, Jr., Martin Luther. Strength to Love. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1981.

Lama, Dalai. Ethics for the New Millennium. New York: Riverhead Books, 1999.