Concurrence of Antecedents (Paṭicca Samuppāda)
This subjective mental process described by the Buddha explains how the world, self, and suffering came into being through a series of logical antecedents. It is this description that is called the Concurrence of Antecedents (paṭicca samuppāda). This Concurrence of Antecedents is based on a natural law on which all natural events, both physical and mental, are based. This law is recognized today in the Western world as Determinism, which is the basis of all modern scientific technology. This law was recognized in the West only during the 18th Century, when science began. This period is today called the Age of Enlightenment. Before this period Western thought was governed by the religious dogma that every natural event occurred only due to the power of God, the supernatural Creator of the world. When this law of determinism was recognized educated people lost faith in the religious dogmas. As a result many revolutions took place such as the French revolution and the Marxist revolution.
This law of Determinism was used in the West to conquer nature, and transform the natural environment to suit the needs of hungry humanity. In the East it was used by the Buddha to solve the problem of existence, by transforming the human mind, which was dominated by the affective faculty or emotions.