Have you ever seen individual leaves yet still understood they're part of the same branch?

Have you ever seen individual branches yet still understood they're part of the single tree?

Have you ever seen individual trees, yet understood they all belong to the same forest?

Have you ever seen individual mountains yet still understood they're part of the single landscape?

We might say “there is a branch” and “there is a tree”. However, that is our own distinction. Trees and branches go together-- you cannot have one without the other.

It’s almost like asking “What are trees made of?”. Then answering “Wood”.

That begs the next question: “Well then, what is wood made out of?” The answer is: “Trees”.

The distinction is in name only-- it’s not actually that way in nature.

Anything you encounter may seem whole by itself, but its very existence depends on other “things”. You may consider leaves and branches and forests and mountains and landscapes separately, but you’ll never be able to completely divorce one from the other.