Mutual Causality in Buddhism and General Systems Theory: The Dharma of Natural Systems

Joanna Macy

SUNY Press, Jan 1, 1991 - Philosophy - 236 pages

This book brings important new dimensions to the interface between contemporary Western science and ancient Eastern wisdom. Here for the first time the concepts and insights of general systems theory are presented in tandem with those of the Buddha. Remarkable convergences appear between core Buddhist teachings and the systems view of reality, arising in our century from biology and extending into the social and cognitive sciences. Giving a cogent introduction to both bodies of thought, and a fresh interpretation of the Buddha's core teaching of dependent co-arising, this book shows how their common perspective on causality can inform our lives. The interdependence of all beings provides the context for clarifying both the role of meditative practice and guidelines for effective action on behalf of the common good.

Contents

• Introduction: 1
• Background: 5
• Considering Causality: 7
• The Linear Unidirectional Causal Paradigm: 9
• OneWay Causality in the West: 10
• OneWay Causality in Indian Thought: 15
• The Mutual Causal Paradigm in the West: 16
• The Buddhist Vision of Mutual Causality: 17
• The Reciprocal Hermeneutic of Buddhism and General Systems Theory: 19
• Perceptions of Mutual Causality: 23
• The Buddhist Teaching of Dependent CoArising: 25
• The Central Role of the Causal Doctrine in the Dharma: 26
• Linear Causality in PreBuddhist India: 28
• Comparison with Western Linear Views: 32
• Scriptural Presentations of Paticca Samuppada: 34
• Dependent CoArising as Mutual Causality: 45
• From Substance to Relation: 46
• No First Cause: 48
• Syntax of Interdependence: 51
• Reciprocity of Causal Factors: 55
• Abhidharmist Interpretations: 58
• Paticca Samuppada as Interdependence: 63
• General Systems Theory: 69
• Sciences Problems with the OneWay Causal Paradigm: 70
• The Perception of Systems in the Life Sciences: 72
• Cybernetics and the Concept of Feedback: 74
• Systemic Invariances and Hierarchies: 76
• Systems Theory in the Social Sciences: 78
• The Cognitive System: 82
• Systems and Value: 85
• Mutual Causality in General Systems Theory: 91
• The Transformation of Causes within the System: 92
• Feedback as Causal Loop: 94
• Negative Feedback Processes: 96
• Positive Feedback Processes: 97
• Seeing Causes: 101
• Dimensions of Mutual Causality: 105
• Self as Process: 107
• The Illusion of Separate Selfhood: 109
• No Clear Lines of Demarcation: 110
• The Lethal Mirage: 114
• The CoArising of Knower and Known: 117
• Perception as Convergence of Factors: 118
• Conditioned and Transitive: 119
• 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
• The CoArising of Body and Mind: 141
• Linear Views: 142
• Two Sides of a Coin: 148
• The Internality of All Systems: 149
• The Ubiquity and Particularity of Mind: 152
• Beyond the Fear of Matter: 153
• Minding: 155
• The CoArising of Doer and Deed: 161
• The Question of Rebirth: 162
• Kaya 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
• The CoArising of Self and Society: 183
• Participation and Particularity: 184
• The Interdependence of Person and Community: 186
• The Dharma of Social Systems: 188
• Mutual Morality: 193
• Concern for Other Beings: 194
• Tolerance and Iconoclasm: 196
• Political Engagement: 198
• Right Livelihood and Economic Sharing: 202
• Ends and Means: 208
• The Dialectics of Personal and Social Transformation: 215
• Free to Reconnect: 216
• The Tree and the Flame: 217
• Bibliography: 221
• Index: 231

About the author

Joanna R. Macy is Adjunct Professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco and Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley. She is the author of Despair and Personal Power in the Nuclear Age; Dharma and Development; Thinking Like a Mountain: Toward a Council of All Beings (with John Seed, Pat Fleming, and Arne Naess); and World as Lover, World as Self.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Mutual Causality in Buddhism and General Systems Theory: The Dharma of Natural Systems; SUNY series in Buddhist studies; Suny Series in Public Administration
• Author: Joanna Macy
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: SUNY Press, 1991
• ISBN: 0791406369, 9780791406366
• Length: 236 pages
• Subjects: Philosophy / Buddhist; Religion / Buddhism / General