Everything around us has a story. There are physical, ecological, social, and economic causes, conditions, and effects of every object in our lives. This is explained in the teachings on dependent origination—that nothing comes to be without precise causes and conditions, and that everything depends on other things.

By examining how objects come into existence—such as the materials, processes, and relationships involved—we recognize that they are part of a broader network. Investigating the causes, conditions, and impacts of things we use every day shines a light on our choices and the many downstream impacts we all have.

We gain experiential knowledge of how this functions by analyzing and thinking through as many of the connections as possible. This investigation includes the origin of all of the various parts or ingredients of an object; who was connected with the journey of each part; and when, where, and how these pieces may have come together to create this object. Additionally, we can think about how the object will degrade, break apart, and where all of those pieces may go.

Ultimately, we recognize that any given object consists entirely of components that are not, in themselves, the absolute, solid, or permanent object we perceive. Instead, the object exists solely as a collection of parts that come together under specific conditions.

By investigating the interconnected stories of everyday objects, students discover personal relevance and develop a genuine desire to make informed choices that resonate with their values and understanding of the world.

Everything in our lives is interconnected and has a story rooted in a web of causes, conditions, and effects. This understanding is closely tied to the concept of dependent origination.

When sitting down for a meal, consider all the different causes and conditions that made that meal possible: who prepared it, the ingredients needed, who grew and harvested those ingredients, and so on. Or, choose three objects and analyze them, noticing that they are made up entirely of parts that are not the same as the whole. For example, a bottle is made up of parts that are not a bottle. Trace the journey of your clothing from raw materials to your closet, considering the environmental and social impacts at each stage.

• For a simple everyday object, consider: Where did each ingredient, or part, come from?
• Who was involved?
• When did it become what it is now?
• When did each ingredient come to be?
• Where will it go when we are done with it?
• How long will it exist?
• What harms or benefits to beings might be connected with this object?
• How does understanding these connections change your relationship with consumption and waste?

Analyze the origins and destinations of everyday objects, and differentiate the complex physical, ecological, social, and economic factors that create our interconnected world.