CHAIN OF CAUSATION

Whatever is, is dependent upon something else, called Dependent Origination (paticca samuppada) or the Chain of Causation in Buddhism.  This theory applies to the central issue in Buddhism which is suffering, its cause and elimination. 

Dependent Origination states: (1) If this is, that comes to be; (2) From the arising of this, that arises; (3) If this is not, that does not come to be; (4) From the stopping of this, that stops.

From this, the Buddha formulated his Four Noble Truths:

Dukkha: There is suffering. Suffering is an intrinsic part of life prior to awakening.  Suffering is experienced also as dissatisfaction, discontent, unhappiness, impermanence.

Samudaya: There is a cause of suffering, which is attachment or desire (tanha).

Nirodha: There is a way out of suffering, which is to eliminate attachment and desire.

Magga: The path that leads out of suffering is called the Noble Eightfold Path.

It is worth noting that in Buddhism there is no First Cause, nothing that explains how all this arising and ceasing began, or even if it had a beginning. Instead, there is an emphasis on things as-they-are.  Speculating over what might have happened in the past, or, for that matter, over what might happen in the future, is a waste of time.  There is suffering now and doing something now to alleviate it is the point.