What We Do Matters

There is an endless net of threads throughout the universe. The horizontal threads are in space. The vertical threads are in time. At every crossing of the threads, there is an individual, and every individual is a crystal bead. And every crystal bead reflects not only the light from every other crystal in the net, but also every other reflection throughout the entire universe.

Rig Veda

This endless net is sometimes known as Indra’s Web. Indra is one of the primordial gods, one of the few who transitioned between ancient Hinduism and Buddhism.  Sometimes this net or web is thought of as protection, but I prefer to understand it as a description of the very real way that we are all connected. 

For as long as I can remember I have known in that deep intuitive way of knowing that all of life is connected by some invisible force.  Perhaps it’s a slender, shimmering thread.  Perhaps an energetic force. 

But there is something connects all of life: the two leggeds, the four leggeds and the many legged ones; those that swim and those that are rooted in one place; those that crawl and those that fly.  Those that grow swiftly and those that grow so slowly they appear to maintain their size and shape forever.  We are all connected.

There are native peoples who celebrate these connections, dedicating their actions and events to “All my relations”.  The butterfly effect which gained popular attention in the second half of the 20^th century, tells the same story: the smallest detail of events in one corner of the world, like a butterfly flapping its wings, impacts the rest of the world.  While this was reflected in weather patterns, it also applies to human and to non-human behavior. 

We act and the reverberations of that action echo throughout creation.  We step back from action and that too echoes throughout time and space.

At each and every crossing of the threads of Indra’s net is a jewel.  A jewel that is held by a being or perhaps within a being.  Perhaps that jewel is the light of the soul. 

The legend goes on to tell us that every jewel reflects each other gem. Can you feel the strength of our connection to all of life right in your very hands?  When we feel it, then we know a fundamental truth of being.  Each and every thing we do, matters.

When we step up to the reality that what we do matters, than the intention that is the foundation of our actions becomes most important. 

Recognize that there is always some underlying intention to our actions.  We may or may not ask ourselves the question: who or what does this action serve?  Is it for the greater good?” in a conscious way, but the question exists inside our hearts and minds.

Seek to know the intention beneath your actions, your thoughts and feelings.  Are you living out old, unfinished stories or creating new healing ones?  When we take a hard look in the mirror of our souls we may find a deep desire to hold our jewel of Indra’s net most tenderly.

So set the intentions of your heart to reflect the impact you wish to send out into the web of all life.  For each action will echo down the days and return to you along those threads of Indra’s Net.