MUTUAL QUJSALITY IN buddhismo

AND QENERAL sYSTEMS JHEORY

THE DHARMA OF NATURAL

SYSTEMS
JOANNA MACY

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Mutual Causality in Buddhism and General

Systems Theory
SUNY Series in Buddhist Studies Kenneth Inada, Editor

Mutual Causality in Buddhism and

General Systems Theory
The Dharma of Natural Systems

Joanna Macy

Published by

State University of New York Press

State University of New York Press, Albany 1991 State University of

New York All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever
without written permission except in the case of brief quotations
embodied in criticai articles and reviews.
For information, address State University of New York Press, State
University Plaza, Albany, N.Y., 12246
Production by M. R. Mulholland Marketing by Theresa A. Swierzowski

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Macy, Joanna, 1929Mutual causality in Buddhism and general systems theory : the dharma of natural
systems / by Joanna Macy.
p. cm.(SUNY series in Buddhist studies)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7914-0636-9 (CH : acid-free). ISBN 0-7914-0637-7 (PB : acid-free)
1. Causation (Buddhism) 2. Pratityasamutpda. I. Title.
II. Series.
BQ4240.M33 1991
294.3'422'011dc20
90-39937
CIP
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For my husband Fran

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Contents

Preface

xi

Introduction

1 Part One: Background

1. Considering Causality
7 Like the Air We Breathe 7 The Linear Unidirectional
Causal Paradigm
9 One-Way Causality in the West 10 One-Way Causality in
Indian Thought
15 The Mutual Causal Paradigm in the West 16 The Buddhist Vision of
Mutual Causality17 The Reciprocal Hermeneutic of Buddhism and
General Systems Theory
19
Part Two: Perceptions of Mutual Causality
2. The Buddhist Teaching of Dependent Co-Arising25 The Central Role of the Causal Doctrine in the
Dharma
26 Linear Causality in Pre-Buddhist India 28 Comparison with Western
Linear Views32 Scriptural Presentations of Paticca Samuppda 34
3. Dependent Co-Arising as Mutual Causality45 From Substance to Relation 46 No First Cause
48 Syntax of Interdependence 51 Reciprocity of Causal
Factors
55 Abhidharmist Interpretations 58 Paticca Samuppda as
Interdependence
63
4. General Systems Theory69 Science's Problems with the One-Way Causal Paradigm 70
Perception of Systems in the Life Sciences72 Cybernetics and the Concept of Feedback
Systemic Invariances and Hierarchies
76
Systems Theory in the Social Sciences
The Cognitive System
Systems and Value

The
74
78
82
85

5. Mutual Causality in General Systems Theory91 The Transformation of Causes within the System
92 Feedback as Causal Loop 94
Negative
Feedback
Processes
96 Positive Feedback Processes 97 Seeing Causes
101
Part Three: Dimensions of Mutual Causality
6. Self as Process
Selfhood

107 Everything Changes 107 The Illusion of Separate

109 No Clear Lines of Demarcation 110 The Lethal Mirage 114

7. The Co-Arising of Knower and Known117 Perception as Convergence of Factors

118
Consciousness: Conditioned and Transitive119 Information Circuits 123 Shaping the

World

through Projection

125 Learning as Self Reorganization 126 The Limits of Cognition

128 Objectless Knowing 131 Who is Knowing? 135

8. The Co-Arising of Body and Mind

141 Linear Views
Reeds"
142 Two Sides of a Coin
Systems
149 The Ubiquity and Particularity of Mind
Matter
153 "Minding"

142 "Like Two Sheaves of

148 The Internality of All
152 Beyond the Fear of
155

9. The Co-Arising of Doer and Deed 161 Identity and Accountability 161 The Question of Rebirth
162 Kya and Karma 163 Structure and Function
166 Past and Present 168
The
Dharma
and
Determinism
169
The Determinacy of Choice
172
The Cognitive System as Decision Center
174
10. The Co-Arising of Self and Society183 Participation and Particularity
184
Interdependence of Person and Community186 The Dharma of Social Systems
11. Mutual Morality
Iconoclasm
Economie Sharing

193 Concern for Other Beings 194

1^6 Political Engagement 198
2.02 Ends and Means 208

The
188

Tolerance
Right Livelihood

and
and

12. The Dialectics of Personal and Social Transformation215 Free to Reconnect 216 The Tree and the
Flame
217
Bibliography

221