Tu-Shun

I found this reading really interesting, but a bit confusing. I read it a few times and every time I became clear on one thing, it seemed like something else didn't make sense. However, I really enjoyed the following passage:

"Every jewel is intimately connected with all other jewels in the universe, and a change in one jewel means a change, however slight, in every other jewel. Thus, by liberating yourself, you liberate all beings in the universe."

I have always been a big believer in the idea that one's actions have negative or positive consequences for not only oneself, but for others as well. This passage reminded me of one of my favorite verses in The Talmud that says,"He who saves a single life saves the world entire." I have always partly interpreted it as the idea that one person's actions effect more than just themselves or one other individual; they have an effect on the world.

I find the idea that we are way more connected to one another than we think and have a much deeper impact upon one another very fascinating. It is always shocking to me how a lot of people truly believe that their behavior does not ever effect other people when, in fact, it usually has a huge impact on another person's life. I like the idea that liberation in oneself can lead to liberation in other people. It's like a ripple effect.