The Ten Factors bring a dynamic element into the portrait of life revealed by the Ten Worlds and their mutual possession because it shows the ways in which the law of cause and effect actually operates throughout the Ten Worlds. In addition, the Ten Factors show that this dynamism brings about great diversity. This diversity is revealed without overshadowiug the essential unity of all phenomena. This unity is the “Suchness,” or Emptiness, of Dependent Origination.

Of the Ten Factors, Unity refers to the non-duality of all phenomena despite their differing aspects. Even though all phenomena can be distinguished due to the differences between them in the other nine factors, they are all united and equal in that they are all empty and temporary manifestations of Dependent Origination. Again, this means that even though each of the Ten Worlds from hell­-dweller to Buddhahood seems radically different from one another, in actuality they are all a part of the same life process and cannot be separated from one another. Because of this unity, the Ten Worlds mutually posses one another. Because of the mutual possession of the Ten Worlds, all beings are embraced by the Buddha and the Buddha-nature can reside within all beings.

Of the Ten Factors, Consequences are the future results of our present actions. This simply refers to the perhaps unforeseen long-term effects of our present actions. It also refers to the eventual fruition, in one manner or another, of the karmic seeds that we have planted in the depths of our lives.

Of the Ten Factors, Effects are the immediate consequences of present activity. Whenever we act, speak, or even think about something, there is an immediate effect upon our lives. That effect might be so minimal as to be hardly noticeable. However, effects primarily refers to the planting of a new seed in the depths of our lives, not just the immediate change in our conscious lives. The importance of this is that everything that we do has an effect upon our day-to-day life and, even more important, upon our inner life.

Of the Ten Factors, Conditions are the secondary or environmental causes that allow the primary causes to bear fruit. The seeds we have planted in our life through our own actions require the proper circumstances before they come to fruition. Even when they do come to fruition, the exact ways in which they manifest can be influenced by the conditions that surround them. The causes we have made can be inhibited, distorted, modified, or even amplified, depending upon the other causes that we have planted and the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

Of the Ten Factors, Causes are those actions that contribute directly to the present. This factor and the next three – Conditions, Effects and Consequences – directly refer to the law of cause and effect. Cause, in this context, refers to all of our thoughts, words and deeds, which become the seeds in the depths of our lives. The accumulation of these seeds are the habit-patterns that determine the ways in which our life will unfold. In fact, the dominant world or state of mind that is our usual state of being is the fruition of these very seeds. Therefore, it is very important that we plant as many good seeds in our life as possible.

Of the Ten Factors, Activity is the actual change brought about through power. It should be pointed out that things will not necessarily be done just because someone or something has the power to do them. Nothing exists by itself and nothing happens in a vacuum. In order to have an actual effect on the world, the right circumstances must exist. These circumstances, based upon the power of the beings involved, call forth the appropriate activity or response to produce the actual effect. A match will not light itself. It must be struck against a wall or a match box first.

Of the Ten Factors, Power is the ability of phenomena to effect and undergo change. Whereas the first appearance, nature and entity analyze phenomena from the perspective of external and internal relations, this factor and activity point out that all things are involved in a constant process of mutual influence and transformation. In other words, things do not merely bring each other into being and support each other’s existence, they are actually mutually transformative.

Of the Ten Factors, Entity is the integration of the spiritual and material aspects in phenomena. Phenomena cannot be understood one-sidedly, either from the viewpoint of external appearances or internal natures. The factor of entity is a recognition that nothing can be understood without both its objective and its subjective sides.

Of the Ten Factors, Nature is the internal or subjective aspect of phenomena. This factor focuses on those intrinsic qualities that make things what they are, as opposed to external or superficial appearances. Nature also indicates our inner thoughts and feelings.