PRINCIPLE OF DEPENDENT ORIGINATION

The Buddhist Principle of Dependent Origination states that what is, is dependent upon something else, the law of cause and effect. If this is, that comes to be; from the arising of this, that arises; if this is not, that does not come to be; from the stopping of this, that stops. 

The skillful man asks, “What are the consequences of my actions? Will it lead to hurt of self, of others, or of both? What will happen if I stop, or do nothing?” It is like a clock where if one wheel turns, all the wheels turn, and if no wheel turns, none of the other wheels turn.