 Along the way, he focuses attention on two key items in the Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika ontology: causation and distinctness. Without these two items, the Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika philosopher cannot defend the claim that there is a plurality of things in the world that are distinct from consciousness or the self. Once causation is out of the picture, the Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika philosopher cannot explain how our conscious awareness-episodes can be brought about by mind-independent objects. Analogously, without distinctness, the Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika philosopher cannot claim that we have any reason to believe that there is a plurality of objects in the world. This section shall outline Śrīharṣa’s discussion of causation and distinctness.