Indra's Net and melting snowflakes

[Guest guest]

There are several aspects of

Indra's Net, that signify it as a

crystal clear allegory of reality:

 

1. The Holographic Nature of the

Universe Long before the existence

of the hologram, the jeweled net is

an excellent description of the

special characteristic of holograms:

that every point of the hologram

contains information regarding all

other points. This reflective nature

of the jewels is an obvious

reference to this. This kind of

analogy has been suggested by science

as a theory for an essential

characteristic of the cosmos, as

well as as the functioning of the

human brain, as beautifully

described in The Holograpic

Universe by Michael Talbot.

 

2. The Interconnectedness of All

Thingss When any jewel in the net

is touched, all other jewels in

the node are affected. This speaks

to the hidden interconnectedness

and interdependency of everything

and everyone in the universe, and

has an indirect reference to the

concept of " Dependent Origination "

in Buddhism. Additionally, Indra's

Net is a definitive ancient

correlate of Bell's Theorum, or the

theory of non-local causes.

 

3. Lack of a substantive self

Each node, representing an individual

simply reflects the qualities of

all other nodes, inferring the

notion of 'not-self' or a lack of

a solid and real inherent self, as

seen in the Advaita Vedanta school

of Hinduism and Buddhism in general

 

4. Non-locality Indra's Net shoots

holes in the assumption or

imputation of a solid and fixed

universe 'out there'. The capacity

of one jewel to reflect the light

of another jewel from the other

edge of infinity is something that

is difficult for the linear mind,

rational mind to comprehend. The

fact that all nodes are simply

reflections indicates that there

is no particular single source

point from where it all arises.

 

5. Innate Wisdom

The ability to reflect the entirety

of all light in the universe

attests to the inherent transcendant

wisdom that is at the core of all

nodes, representing all sentient

beings, and to the inherent Buddha

Nature.

 

6. Illusion or Maya

The fact that all nodes are simply

a reflection of all others implies

the illusory nature of all appearances.

 

Appearances are thus not reality

but a reflection of reality.

 

7. Universal Creativity

A familiar concept in various high

dharmas is one of an impersonal

creative intelligence that springs

forth into reality through the

instruments of all living beings.

 

8. The Mirror-like Nature of Mind

The capacity to reflect all things

attests to the mind being a mirror

of reality, not its basis. This is

a common thesis among various schools

and religions.

 

 

from a thread by Freyja a golfer

 

Love, Karta