Is the cup of tea actually out there or in our mind?
In this video “Crazy Switch”, Bhante uses a cup of tea as an example to explain the cause and effect phenomena. In the video, Bhante explains ‘cup of tea’ is an effect and there are numerous causes contributing to this produce this effect . In addition, Bhante explains that each cause is necessary to produce the ‘cup of tea’ effect and that this ‘cup of tea’ effect cannot be found in any of the causes alone. It has left me wondering is the cup of tea actually out there or is it merely just a perception? And why is there a feeling that cup of tea is out there? Does anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks:)
Thanks @rach253 for bringing this up.
I feel the same way. I think the feeling that ‘the cup of tea is out there’ is natural because we perceive it and we drink it, so it is mediated by our senses and mind. Our eyes see the cup and tea, our hands feel its warmth, and our taste buds experience the flavour. Then the mind integrates these sensory inputs and creates the idea of ‘a cup of tea’, which means our mind is conditioned to label the experience to make sense of the world. However, when we have a closer look, even these sensory experiences are dependent on a whole lot of causes like light, nerve signals and interpretation. So I think, understanding this inter-dependent nature, actually the ‘causes and effects’, helps loosen the attachment to the idea that things exist out there. But this takes time, cannot be done in a single day, so we should keep practicing this ultimate truth 🙂.
Thanks!
This is such a fascinating question! It’s amazing how accustomed we are to this view that something completely different, a new product is out there. But Bhante is right. We are merely combining the ingredients, the tea leaves or tea bag, boiling water, and some milk (this is how I make my tea) and all of a sudden, a cup of tea is born! We fail to see it’s still the combination of the ingredients because the effect feels like it gave rise to a fixed end product… how crazy are we?? 😆
Thanks for all the input everyone 🙂 this mind should receive an award for the show it puts on. Reflecting on what has been said, it makes sense this mind is programmed to put a label on everything and categorise the ‘cup of tea’ as a new fixed product instead of a combination of the causes that are constantly contributing