The common cause with regard to the germinating seeds, is rain. So, while there is a common reason for the germination of the seeds, yet the result can be vastly different because of individual differences between the seeds. The analogy in terms of God and the world would be that God is the common cause, and the differences arise from individual karma.. Just as different seeds on receiving rain develop into different plants or trees, so do human beings have varying experiences in life. The Supreme One is the common cause. The special cause for each individual experience — the visesha kAraNa — is that individual’s karma.

Source: The Hindu February 27, 2018 18:56 UTC