The
Ten Suchness
The Ten
Suchness consists of ten words prefaced by “such a” or “such
an”: “Such a Form”, “Such a Nature”,
“Such an Embodiment”, “Such a
Potency”, “Such a Function”, “Such a
Primary Cause”, “Such a Secondary Cause”, “Such an
Effect”, “Such a Recompense”, and “Such
a Complete Fundamental
Whole”. This doctrine
reveals the deepest reality of the existence of all things in the
universe, which they call the principle of the Reality of All
Existence. Modern science has analyzed physical substrates to the
extent of subatomic particles. However, the principle of the
Reality of All Existence is much more profound than such an
analysis, extending even to the mental world.
“Such a
Form” (Appearance)
The existence of all things invariably has form.
“Such a
Nature” That which has
a form invariably has a nature.
“Such an
Embodiment” That which has
a nature invariably has an embodiment.
“Such a
Potency” (Power) That
which has an embodiment invariably has potency (energy).
“Such a
Function” When it has
potency, it invariably produces various outwardly directed
functions.
“Such a Primary
Cause” Innumerable
embodied substances exist in the universe. For this reason, their
outward-directed functions are interrelated with all things.
Nothing in the universe exists in an isolated existence having no
relation to other things. All things have complicated connections
with one another. They are interdependent and through their
interaction cause various phenomena.
“Such a Secondary
Cause” (Condition)
Even when there exists a cause, it does not produce its effect
until it comes into contact with some occasion or condition. For
instance, there is always vapor in the air as the primary cause of
frost or dew. But if it has no secondary cause that brings it into
contact with the ground or the leaves of a plant, it does not
become frost or dew.
“Such an
Effect” When a primary
cause meets with a secondary cause, they produce a phenomenon
(effect).
“Such a
Recompense” (Rewards and
retribution) An effect not only produces a phenomenon but also
invariably leaves some trace or residue. For example, the effect of
frost forming will give a pleasant feeling to one person who enjoys
the patterns it makes on the windowpane, while the same effect will
give an unpleasant feeling to someone else whose crops have been
damaged by it. The function of an effect leaving a trace or
residue “Such a Recompense.”
It will
be helpful to explain primary cause, secondary cause, effect, and
recompense in more detail. Suppose a man has offered his seat in
the train to an old woman. In his mind he possesses, as a primary
cause, the potential of wishing to be kind to others. When such a
primary cause comes into contact with a secondary cause, in this
case his seeing an old woman staggering while trying to stand in
the train, it produces the effect of his offering his seat to her.
Afterward he feels refreshed, thinking, “I have done something
good.” This is recompense.” This recompense
comes from one's mind and from outside. The former comes first to
him, the most important recompense.
“Such
a Complete Fundamental Whole” The nine
suchnesses mentioned above occur incessantly in society and in the
universe as a whole. They are interconnected in a complex manner,
so that in most cases, man cannot discern what is a cause and what
is an effect. But these suchnesses never fail to operate according
to the 1aw of the universal truth, and no
one, no thing, and no function can depart from this
law. Everything functions according to the
Law of the Ten Suchnesses, from form to
recompense, namely, from beginning to end. This is the meaning
of “Such a Complete Fundamental
Whole.”
The fact
that this law forms all things, including people and their
relations with one another is called the Reality of All
Existence.
The Ten Suchness
Such
a
Form (phenomenon)
Such
a
Nature (character)
Such
an
Embodiment (entity)
Such
a Such
a
Potency (ability)
Complete
Fundamental Such
a
Function (activity)
Whole
Such
a Primary
Cause (direct
cause)
Such
a Secondary
Cause (occasion
or condition)
Such
an
Effect (result)
Such
a
Recompense (reward
or retribution)
<<Back>>