Classic Advaitic Examples – Cause

In the first part of this series we looked at examples that highlight illusion. In this blog, classic advaitic examples – cause, we look at examples that focus on the cause behind what we observe. The idea is that there is a cause behind anything we see or experience and the goal is to seek out that cause.

Clay and Clay Pot

The most famous of these examples is clay and clay pot. The rishis use examples that are part of their everyday experience. Clay pots were used to store water and were readily available in everyday life.

The process begins by observing a clay pot. At one level you see an object – the clay pot. However, upon closer examination, you find that the clay pot is made of clay. So, clay is the material cause of the clay pot. These examples ask you to identify the material cause behind the observed objects.

You can make clay pots of different shapes – tall, short, fat, and thin – with the same clay. You can also make different clay objects – a pitcher, a plate, a flower pot… with the same clay. Therefore, the same material cause can create different objects; like the differences, we observe in the Universe.

Gold and gold ornaments

Similar to the clay pot and clay example, we observe gold ornaments. The example asks us to examine the gold ornament and see the gold within. Gold ornaments are made of gold. You, again, can make different gold objects like bangles, necklaces, rings… with the same gold. This example also shows that, while we observe a bangle, gold is the material cause of the bangle.

Water and waves

Looking out into the ocean we see waves. Some are small and some are big. Some play together to form larger waves, while others destroy each other.

We observe the waves, but the wave is nothing but water. Water is the material cause of the wave.

Other examples given often are

• Wood and a wooden table – this is used a lot today because lectures are given in rooms filled with wooden objects – table, chair, pews…
• Thread and cloth – in woven material, you can pull the thread at one end and you will see the cloth become a long threaded string.
• Iron and iron sword – here iron is the material used to make the sword.

The classic advaitic examples – cause, ask us to look deeper into objects we observe and find the material cause behind the objects. The material cause and its effects also explain why we see differences in the world.

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