Shvetashvatara Upanishad 1.2
intermediate
कालः स्वभावो नियतिर्यदृच्छा भूतानि योनिः पुरुष इति चिन्त्यम्। संयोग एषां न त्वात्मभावात् आत्माप्यनीशः सुखदुःखहेतोः॥
kālaḥ svabhāvo niyatiryardṛcchā bhūtāni yoniḥ puruṣa iti cintyam | saṃyoga eṣāṃ na tvātmabhāvāt ātmāpyanīśaḥ sukhaduḥkhahEtoḥ ||
"Is the cause time, inherent nature, necessity, chance, the elements, the womb, or the Person? These are to be considered. But it cannot be any combination of these, for the self too is powerless over the cause of pleasure and pain."
What This Means:
Various possible causes are considered: time, nature, fate, chance, matter, cosmic womb, or a cosmic Person. But none of these alone can explain everything.
Going Deeper:
The Upanishad surveys the theories of different schools: time (Kala-vada), nature (Svabhava-vada), fate (Niyati), chance (Yadriccha), matter (Bhuta), and Purusha. All are found inadequate.
How To Apply This:
Question simple explanations of existence. Neither randomness nor determinism fully explains your experience.
#philosophical schools#causes#inadequacy#inquiry