by GaiaSpeaking.com
Indra’s Net, a profound metaphor from Mahayana Buddhism, illustrates the universe as an expansive web where each node holds a jewel reflecting all others. This imagery encapsulates the concept of radical interdependence, suggesting that every entity is interconnected and mutually influential. Joanna Macy, a scholar of Buddhism and deep ecology, draws upon this metaphor to articulate our intrinsic connection within the web of life. She describes Indra’s Net as “a huge net where at every node is a jewel, and each jewel reflects the other jewels and catches the reflections back and forth,” emphasizing the tapestry of universal interconnectedness.
This vision resonates with contemporary understandings in systems theory and deep ecology, which recognize that life is not organized hierarchically but through intricate interdependencies. Macy highlights that “nature doesn’t work that way, and great mystics of many traditions have seen this radical interdependence of all life.”
By embracing this perspective, we acknowledge that our actions ripple throughout the entire web, affecting all beings and the environment.
In the context of the Great Turning—a term Macy uses to describe the essential shift from an industrial-growth society to a life-sustaining civilisation—recognising our place within Indra’s Net becomes transformative. It fosters a sense of mutual belonging and shared responsibility. Macy asserts, “We belong to each other. We belong to the living body of Earth and nothing can ever separate us. We are already home.” This understanding compels us to act for the well-being of the whole, knowing that individual and collective destinies are intertwined.
(Source: Article on the Deep Time Journal of the Work that Reconnects International Network)
By internalising the metaphor of Indra’s Net, we move beyond the illusion of separateness and embrace our role as active participants in the web of life. This shift in perception is vital for the Great Turning, as it encourages actions rooted in awareness, compassion, and a deep commitment to the flourishing of all beings.
For a deeper exploration of these concepts, you may find Joanna Macy’s talk “Waking Up in Indra’s Net: Acting for the Sake of Life on Earth” insightful.
Listen to Audio on dharmaseed.org
Gaia Speaking 