In order to explain or understand interrelatedness more clearly it will be easier to start with understanding the interrelation between the subject and object, the cause and the effect, the consciousness and matter of the mind and body. It is easier to see how these pairs are interrelated with each other. Interrelated means one cannot exist without depending on the other. The self and the other are also an entity. The self exists because of the other and the other exists because of the self. Seeing this interrelatedness, the dependence of these pairs, you can apply this view towards the entire universe.

The principle of interdependence is defined in two different categories. The first category is interdependence of cause and effect, the principle of casualty. The principle of causality is applicable only to those phenomena, which are of composite matter, which are subject to impermanence. The cause and its conditions give the result and the result in turn is emerging from causes and conditions. The effect is always dependent on the cause. If there is no cause, there is no effect.

This is the insight the Buddha identified in order to eliminate pain and misery. They cannot be treated as symptoms. Misery cannot be eradicated by opposing the misery itself. One has to find the cause of misery. Once the cause is eradicated, the effect will automatically come to an end and cease. This is the principle of misery and the cause of misery which is technically termed “dukkha”. When the cause is present, then it cannot go away without giving the effect or the result. And when the cause is eliminated then there is no separate effort required to eliminate the result. In casualty, whatever result is there, it is always dependent on, related to, or is due to that cause. So cause and effect have an inseparable relation. If one does not exist, the other does not exist. If there is no cause, there can be no effect.

-- 5th Samdhong Rinpoche, Lobsang Tenzin