dependent-origination

...if we seek the permanence of an object as something existing from its own side, we discover something inexpressible. If we take three sticks and place them together in a certain way, they will all stand up. If each of the sticks could stand under its own power, it would remain standing even if the others were removed, but they cannot. In this way we must understand dependent arising precisely. Another way of thinking about it is to consider clothing. Only when cloth is of the correct color, shape, and so forth is it labeled "clothing." Or think of a clock. Whenever we see a clock, we label it a clock, but if we were to separate the component pieces, then the "clock" would cease to exist, because no basis of imputation would remain. In actuality there was no truly existent clock in the first place__nly the causes and conditions fit to be labeled a "clock.

The Heart-mantra of Dependent Origination (rten-'brel snying-po [ར_ེ____ེལ_____]), which liberates the enduring continuum of phenomena and induces the appearance of multiplying relics ('phel-gdung [__ེལ_____] and rainbow lights, is:[O_ YE DHARM_ HETUPRABHAV_HETUN TEṢ TATH_GATOHY AVADAT TEṢ CA YONIRODHO EVA V_DIMAH__RAMA_ [YE SV_H_]('Whatever events arise from a cause, the Tathag_ta [Buddha, "Thus-gone"] has told the cause thereof, and the great virtuous ascetic has taught their cessation as well [so be it]').

All phenomena do not inherently exist because of being dependent-arisings. All phenomena do not inherently exist because of being dependently imputed.