The Four Investigations
In this episode, I explore the Four Investigations, a teaching from the Yogachara School of Buddhism that offers a framework for understanding reality by examining the mind. These investigations—the names of things, things themselves, the nature of things, and the separateness of things—help us move beyond our conceptualizations to see reality more clearly. Key takeaways include recognizing that names are symbols, not the things themselves; that things are ultimately beyond words; that what appears to be an intrinsic nature is an illusion due to interdependence; and that separateness is a construct that obscures the interconnectedness of all phenomena, or "suchness." This practice can be applied to objects or, more powerfully, turned inward to understand ourselves, offering a practical way to cultivate a more accurate view of reality, akin to the Buddhist concept of the Two Truths (relative and absolute).
