The principle of mutual arising
It is basic to the Taoist view of the world that every thing-event (shì 事 or wù 物) is what it is only in relation to all others. The earth, and every tiniest thing upon it, inevitably “goes-with” the sun, moon, and stars. It needs them just as much as it needs, and consists of, its own elements. Conversely, the sun would not be light without eyes, nor would the universe “exist” without consciousness—and vice versa. This is the principle of “mutual arising” (xiāng 相 shēng 生) which is explained in the second chapter of the Tao Te Ching. —Alan Watts, Tao: The Watercourse Way
- previously: at every level we are a web of interdependencies
- see also: we exist only in relationship to others