Analysis of the Teachings of Vimalakirti

"All these things arise dependently, from causes,
Yet they are neither existent nor nonexistent.
Therein is neither ego, nor experiencer, nor doer,
Yet no action, good or evil, loses its effects.
Such is your teaching." (Chapter 1)

This passage from the Teachings of Vimalakirti, to me, encompasses beliefs crucial to Buddhism. It touches on concepts such as karma, samsara, causation, and "no self." It explains that everything that happens has to come from somewhere. Something causes other things to occur. For example, actions in a current life determine rebirth (karma and samsara). The idea of "no self" is shown through the terms nonexistent and existent. There is a physical body that exists but the "self" is nonexistent. One may aim to find oneself but ideally will not find it. Even though, the quote continues, there is no self to be an "experiencer" of the things arising dependently from causes or a "doer", actions (good or evil) are still very important and do not lose their affects. Actions still act as determinants for the future whether in the same life or the next. This is a fundamental understand of karma and subsequently samsara.