The Ten Suchnesses in Daily Life: Such an Effect, Such a Reward, and Such an Ultimate Identity
Dr. Dominick Scarangello
International Advisor to Rissho Kosei-kai
This time we conclude our exploration of the Ten Suchnesses by considering “such an effect,” “such a reward,” and “such an ultimate identity.”
As Rissho Kosei-kai founder Nikkyo Niwano explained, “When a cause (such a cause) meets the proper condition (such a condition), it produces a phenomenon, which we call such an effect” (Buddhism for Today 162). “Such an effect” refers to the immediate result an action produces.
Let’s unpack this with a readily understood example.
Imagine I accidentally knock over a cup of coffee while working on my computer. The coffee spills onto the keyboard, seeps inside, and destroys the logic board. My absentmindedness (such a nature), which set up the possibility of this accident (such a potential), met the condition of a cup of coffee placed beside my computer (such a condition). The inattentive movement of my hand (such a cause) might not have produced trouble under different conditions. But given the presence of the coffee cup, that same movement became the cause for the effect of a broken computer.
If this is “such an effect,” then what is “such a reward?” Founder Niwano explained: “An effect is not realized only as an immediate phenomenon; it also leaves a lingering influence, like a trace or residue” (Buddhism for Today 162).
In the case of spilling coffee on my computer, the long-term consequences are obvious: the need to repair or replace the computer, the financial impact of that expense, and the inconvenience it causes. These ongoing results constitute “such a reward.”
This example is trivial, but it helps clarify the sequence: cause plus condition lead to effect and reward. More significant for our happiness, however, is this sequence within human relationships.
Consider a boy who offers his seat to an elderly person on a train or bus. The immediate effect may be a feeling of satisfaction at having done something kind. And that action may reinforce the desire to be of service to others. This nurtures bodhisattva compassion within the boy, making him a more caring person. Such an inner shift is also “such a reward.” But notice something important: because the “such a reward” of that virtuous action is a change of heart, it is also a shift in “such a nature.”
The Ten Suchnesses are in effect a feedback loop. “Such a reward” cycles back into our “such an appearance” and “such a nature,” and in turn, changes our “such a potential” and so on. The results of our actions shape our character, and our character, in turn, influences the course of our future actions. Living in accord with the principle of the Ten Suchnesses means recognizing and skillfully managing this self-reinforcing cycle. We can do this by aligning our thoughts and actions with the Buddha’s teachings, ensuring they create a virtuous cycle that refines our character and makes our lives happier and more fulfilling.
But even when we act unskillfully and experience suffering as a result, the story does not end there. The long-term consequences—the “such a reward”—need not remain negative. How we interpret and respond to the effect and reward can transform a minus into a plus. If we acknowledge our mistakes, reflecting and correcting them (acknowledgement and remorse), then even the effects and rewards of unskillful actions can become valuable lessons, serving as opportunities for growth and awakening, and experiences of suffering can become the seeds of compassion and wisdom. This is why Founder Niwano taught us to see all causes as good causes—“a state of mind in which we see every encounter as a cause of happiness” (The Buddha in Everyone’s Heart 34). Whether a cause ultimately leads to beneficial rewards depends largely on our mindset. If we use every experience—pleasant or painful—as material for reflection and self-cultivation, they can all contribute to our development. We cannot change the facts of our past, but we can change their significance and influence—their “such a reward”—on our lives.
The Ten Suchnesses are not separate things, but integrated aspects of every single experience or phenomenon. The way the suchnesses relate to each other resembles the stitches in a sweater. If you pull on one loop of yarn, the surrounding stitches shift as well. In the same way, changing one aspect of an interaction, such as attitude, facial expression, tone of voice, or response, affects the whole. And by reflecting on our encounters, and correcting ourselves in response to them—even years later—we ensure that all experiences are for the purpose of awakening. This interrelatedness of the suchnesses is “from the first to the last, such an ultimate identity” (Buddhism for Today 160). Every aspect influences the whole dynamic. By practicing the Dharma in daily life with this awareness, we participate consciously in shaping both immediate effects and long-term rewards, gradually transforming our lives toward liberation and awakening.
Field Report from the Sangha
Rev. Saho Lee
San Francisco Dharma Center
In 2023, when I was assigned to the San Francisco Dharma Center, I contributed to the Dharma center’s monthly newsletter for the first time and had the opportunity to share with members the Founder’s view of dependent origination in the Lotus Sutra, explained in simple, accessible language.
In that article, I referred to the Founder’s teaching on “good causes and good effects”—specifically, the principle of always viewing those around you as good causes and good conditions—as introduced in Rev. Kosho Niwano’s book, The Buddha in Everyone’s Heart (34). I shared my personal understanding of that teaching as follows:
When things do not go as we wish in life, we often assume that something bad must be the cause. But the Founder teaches that every effect is a phenomenon that is appropriate for us at that moment. By humbly accepting whatever outcome arises, instead of judging the effect as good or bad, the experience itself becomes a good cause and, in time, transforms into the seeds of a good effect. The Founder tells us that there are no such things as “bad causes and bad effects” in this world; rather, everything can become a good cause leading to a good effect.
When I first arrived in San Francisco, I also shared this teaching in my inauguration speech.
When I received this request for a contribution to “Field Report from the Sangha” from Rissho Kosei-kai International, I felt as if I had been given an opportunity to reflect on myself now that three years have passed since I was assigned as minister. Reflecting on my state of mind at the time of my inauguration, I realized that although I conveyed the Founder’s teaching of “good causes and good effects” to members, the vital message applied perfectly to me and prompted me to ask myself whether I could accept the outcome of every situation in my daily life with an open heart as a positive cause for my own growth.
A member at the San Francisco Dharma Center was struggling with her family relationships. As I listened to her time and again, I came to understand that her greatest pain was that no matter how much she tried to convey what she believed was right, her family would not accept it. I felt that she was focusing too much on simply expressing her own feelings, so I encouraged her to try to be more considerate of her family’s feelings. But she could not accept my advice, and our conversation did not move forward because she continued to insist only on what she believed was right. I felt frustrated that my advice was not getting through.
But then, as I reflected on the principle of cause and effect, I realized that I was actually just like her. From that moment on, I was able to accept that her refusal to listen to me wasn’t a problem for me, but a positive cause teaching me to see things from the other person’s perspective. I realized that, in my eagerness to convey my feelings, I hadn’t been putting myself in her shoes. When I honestly told her that if I were in her position, I’d probably also find it difficult to accept this advice, I felt her heart soften a little. Through that exchange, I realized that I, too, had been prioritizing my own feelings without seeing things from another person’s point of view.
Even now, I often struggle when what I want to convey does not fully reach the other person. However, keeping in mind that the more I grow spiritually, the more effectively my words will reach others, I will continue to practice diligently in accordance with the Dharma, never forgetting my gratitude to the many members supporting me.