Indra’s Net: the Interdependent Web

What does it mean to be part of an interdependent web of existence? It might surprise you that the origin of the metaphor is Indra’s Net in Buddhist scriptures (in the Atharva Veda). Indra’s mythical web or net is limitless, and it has an infinite number of faceted gemstones at each intersection of cord. Even more impressive, each gem is reflected in all of the other gems, so gazing upon a single jewel, one can see the infinity of all the other jewels as well.

What if we recognized ourselves as precious jewels existing in connected relationship with an infinite number of other jewels? What happens when one of those gemstones loses its luster? 

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