Interconnectedness of the universe

The Buddha compared the universe with an immeasurable net, woven from countless sorts of brilliant jewels, each with an innumerable amount of facets. Each jewel in the net mirrors in itself each other jewel, and is basically one with all other jewels. Everything is empty; without any permanent, stable and inherent existence. A wave is merely a manifestation of water, created by wind and water amongst others, dependent on other waves. A tree is related to rainwater, sunlight and the seasons. A fire in the Amazon rainforest influences the air someone breathes in Paris. We are mutually dependent on everything and everyone – even the smallest, most meaningless thoughts, words and actions have far-reaching consequences. A pebble thrown into the water causes ripples that flow into one another, which then causes new ones.