Everything Starts With Me "The Law of Causation" by Yumi Domingo

Good Morning everyone!
My name is Yumi Domingo and the topic of my presentation today is called “Everything starts with me!”

Do you have days when you feel that nothing is going your way or the results are not what you expected? You think, “My life isn’t supposed to be like this?!”

We live every day, moment to moment shifting our feelings from one feeling to another, depending on the conditions or situations we come into contact with.

We learn from the teachings of the Eternal Buddha that “Everything starts with me.” This is the teaching I have come to understand little by little. I am still in the process of realizing that “Everything starts with me”. It is a realization I’ve come to value and appreciate over time.

In this universe, nothing happens by chance; nothing happens by accident. There is a certain Law of the Universe that exists. Every phenomenon has a reason. What is this Law? It is “the Law of Causation”.

There are two explanations of the Law of Causation.

The first is “cause and effect” and recompense. That behind every effect, there exists a cause.

Did you know that Shakyamuni Buddha never preached that there was an absolute god or a supreme being who created this world and presided over the workings of nature? Everything is constantly changing, while nothing in this world happens by chance - there is a reason for everything that occurs.

The second of the Law of Causation is that of primary cause and secondary cause, combining to produce an effect and eventually, recompense (realization). Depending on the combination of the primary and secondary cause, every effect that is produced will change.

Shakyamuni regarded all phenomena are produced in this world as a result of the relation between “cause and effect”. For this reason, all existence, human or non-human, are interrelated with all things. Nothing in this world is an isolated existence having no relation to other things. All things have complex connections with one another. They are interdependent and through their interaction cause various phenomena.

EXAMPLES: For instance, when it rains, which is an effect (resulting effect), we know that there is a reason why it rains. It rains because of the interaction between hot and cold air, which produces clouds, which causes it to rain. Water just doesn’t fall out of the sky.

For every effect there is an appropriate cause.

Another example would be say about snow (an effect). There is always vapor in the air as the primary cause. But if the vapor does not come in contact with a secondary cause, or a condition, vapor does not become snow.

But if the vapor (cause) comes into contact with very low temperature (a condition) vapor condenses and will produce snow. If it comes in contact with high temperature, there will be rain instead.

In this example, the primary cause is the same (vapor), but depending on the condition (cold or hot temperature), the resulting effect is very different.

The resulting realization (recompense) from this example may give a pleasant feeling to one person who enjoys the snow for its beauty, while the same effect will give an unpleasant feeling to someone else who must drive in the snow.

Let’s take another example, a seed of a flower (cause). If the seed comes into contact with the soil and warm climate (condition), the seed will grow and a flower will bloom (effect). However, if the seed is planted in the winter (condition), the seed will not bloom (effect).

So when the primary cause comes into contact with a condition, an appropriately suitable effect will be produced from the combination of the two.

[These examples are so simple but so very profound!!]

In many cases in our daily lives, we cannot easily distinguish what is a cause and what is an effect because all things that we encounter in our society and especially in this world are interconnected in a complex manner. But the relation between cause and effect never fail to operate and no one, no thing and no function can depart from this law.

EXAMPLE: I recently read where President Niwano gives an example of someone who harshly points out one of our personal flaws. Most of us will react to the criticism emotionally. We will be shocked, angry or simply ignore the criticism. But President Niwano explains that if we can accept such criticism as having allowed us to become aware of another of our characteristics, this emotional event can eventually lead to unexpected joy. If we can develop some kind of self-realization, we may be able to use this criticism to improve or perfect our character.

We must strive to accept things positively so that we can make positive changes in our lives. Our effort is our practice of faith.

We may think that our life is the way it is because of other’s causes or forces. We blame others in many ways for our dissatisfaction. However, Founder Niwano said, “The cause of your life is all up to you.” Don’t blame others. If you continue to blame others, your life will never change.

So, we believe and realize that “Everything starts with me”; this is a positive realization or enlightenment!

Founder Niwano states that it is not an easy task to decipher who or what is the primary cause in any situation. We may think that the person who is doing the criticizing is the primary cause of our suffering. However, in this fundamental teaching of Law of Causation, we learn that we ourselves are the primary cause.

How do we apply this teaching into our lives?

Let’s say that we are in a difficult situation. First develop a positive image in your heart and mind and tell yourself, “Depending on how I am, how I act, things can change positively.”

This teaching guides us to change our views so we can realize that we are the primary cause. Once we can understand this fundamental truth, by first changing our attitude towards all conditions we come in contact with, then we have an opportunity to change our life.

Therefore, we must try to constantly keep in our mind and heart to be a good primary cause for any condition we encounter. Then any result or effect will be for our self-improvement and reflection.

Let’s try to think like this:
If something good happens, it is the result of my being a good cause.
If something unhappy or bad happens, it is the result of my being a bad cause.

For example, I always thought that the cause of my suffering lied on my husband!! I thought, boy, he’s always unhappy, mad, always drinking. I believed that due to HIS actions, we were not a happy family. So during the first stage of my realization, I truly believed that he was at fault 100%!!

Well, I realized that I had developed, over time, a habit of thinking that he was always the cause of my suffering.

Then as I started my practice, I started to see that our suffering was not totally his fault!! Gradually, I could see that I was the cause of my suffering.

I can understand and realize that “Everything starts with me!” Depending on how I change my mind and heart, my world will change.

If I continue to blame my husband for all my suffering, I cannot change my life. If I can take the blame for 50% of the cause of suffering, then my life will somewhat change. If I can take 100% of the cause of suffering, then my life will change completely. “Everything starts with me!”

Sometimes, we experience situations where we believe we are being a good cause but the effect is not good! We are taken aback and start to wonder what happened!! But through consultations with the missionary leaders and the Reverend, we learn that we still carry or have a bad cause deep within ourselves.

So how do I change myself? Is it possible to change myself? We are taught this through our practice of faith.

Again, imagine in your mind and heart and tell yourself, “Depending on how I am, things can change positively.” Then, do not confront or attack the other person. Don’t try to justify yourself to the other person. But instead, listen to that person completely with an open mind.

Next I started my monthly life appreciation services at home in the hopes that the Eternal Buddha and my ancestors will help me forgive others, and to be more compassionate towards others. I ask for their help and guidance to fill the areas in myself that I lack.

As a result, my relationship between my husband and my children has changed. We no longer have vicious arguments. I can embrace and accept him instead of arguing. I am starting to change. Even to this day, I come home late from work and I am always busy so naturally, he gets mad at me. But, instead of justifying myself, I can calmly accept his emotions because I know he feels alone, and that he is speaking for the family. I can listen to him. I can see and realize my husband’s compassion.

My effect (result) changed. I manage myself and try to approach any situation with a good heart so that we can achieve a good relationship. We can sit and talk more calmly then before. I am grateful to him and my family for understanding and supporting my life.

“Everything starts with me!”

We also want to be a “good condition” to the people we encounter. For example, if my children are the primary cause, as a parent, I want to be their good condition. This is very important. In being a good condition, we as parents can cultivate their good causes.

I always ask myself, am I being a good condition to my children, members of the church and my coworkers? This is the way of a Bodhisattva, always thinking of the welfare others first.

How do we develop ourselves to be a good condition?

There are approaches we can practice. We can start by giving effort to change the way we speak.

Through tedori and michibiki practices, we want to be a good cause and condition. We must guide others through our active practice of the faith.

I feel that among the members, I want to develop myself to be a good cause and condition so that will develop a good effect. In doing so, I become a good encounter to others so that they are able to develop their own good causes.

We must try our best to change so that we are good encounters to others. This will bring about “Great Harmony”.

To develop and cultivate others' good causes, we need to be a good encounter, but in order to be a good encounter, we ourselves must be good causes.

I saw changes in the members I take care of. Karen Fujii, who is in my group, also started to practice the monthly life appreciation services at her home. She prayed for her mother and her practice also influenced her children. Her children and now her husband are continuing the life appreciation services. “This is a good cause resulting in a good effect”. She is their “good encounter”, a very positive influence to her family. This is a wonderful network of family happiness.

In coming to church and practicing the teachings, we learn the skills to change our state of mind, our attitude and our spirituality.

We need to make self-improvements by getting the support and encouragement of the other members of the church (Sangha), the missionary leaders and from the minister. This is because we cannot see our true self easily. We need to have experienced members show us our tendencies.

Everything starts with me! Let’s try and practice to become good primary cause so whatever situation we encounter in our daily lives can be a life situation we can use to step up in our lives.

We can make progress in any situation when we change our attitude. Be able to recognize that we are the primary cause, not the other person. With this realization, we can make positive progress in any and every situation.

Stop pre-judging what others are going to say or do or think. We can make great strides when you believe in the Eternal Buddha, He is always with us, supporting and encouraging us through our life lessons.

In summary, “Law of Causation” is a natural law of the universe so we must cultivate good cause for any and all future effect. If we change, others will change. If you change your heart and mind, your world will change.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to give my presentation today. I hope you have a better understanding of the “Law of Causation”.

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