In any Buddhist Context, is there a Necessary Existent I'm asking this ontological question as in the context of, e.g., an Aristotelian Prime Unmoved Mover, or some other first cause.
My guess is that there isn't, probably based on Dependent Origination or maybe even the Heart Sutra. (I hope I have not misconstrued those.)
Thanks
Yes, you have misconstrued.
Dependent Origination is about the origin of suffering (sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress &amp; despair) rather than about the origin of the physical universe (refer to SN 12.2).
Dependent Origination says the 1st cause for the origin of suffering is ignorance; for which no preceding cause can be found (refer to AN 10.61).
In addition, DN 11 clearly says the question: &quot;where do the 4 physical elements cease without remainder?&quot; is an invalid question. This means the ending and also the beginning of the 4 physical elements (earth, wind, fire &amp; water) cannot be known.