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Emptiness & Non Existence
Can anyone please explain emptiness to me and the concept that we don't really exist. Am struggling with this. Can someone suggest a good book which explains it well. I have read Transform Your Life by Gesha Kelsang Gyatso and am still confused!!! Thanks, Wendy
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1) we are impermanent and
2) have no permanent or separate "self" (core/soul)
That's all that emptiness refers to, these two Buddhist concepts of Impermanence (Anicca) and No-Self (Anatta). It doesn't mean that we don't exist... not by a long shot.
Rather what arises from the emptiness, the forms and experiences of every day life, Buddhism refers to as "suchness".
This suchness is the fabric of reality, that we see, touch and experience in every way. It's everything there is, including us. The way that the suchness changes depends on universal laws we call the "Dharma".
The Dharma includes Impermanence and No-Self mentioned above, as well as Karma (conditionality... cause and effect). What Buddhist teachings are all about is realizing that we are all suffering because of our unrealistic expectations of reality, and the only way to free ourselves is to realize the state of Nirvana (non-clinging to life and its pleasures).
Here's a site for some good Buddhist resources: http://www.buddhanet.net
Good luck!
There is another book Geshe-la has written which is a rather good eludication upon Prajnaparamita emptiness Heart of wisdom I admit his books can be rather scholarly and take some time to understand.
Emptiness, Phenomena appear to us to be truely existant posessing a Self seperate from causes, even if we know this to not be true on a superfical level we still act as if they are existant in the way they appear anyway, Emptiness cuts through this mistaken appearance and helps us realize that all our suffering and problems we grasp at come from this deeply held view that all things exist seperatley from us, By meditating on this view eventually we cut the root of all our suffering.
Transform your life In the earlier sections is easier to understand however emptiness is always a Difficult concept to grasp at it take some time and more reasoning but you get there in the end
Also, the Buddha spoke as follows:
Its worth checking the Theravada approach to emptiness. In this article 'Like Oil and Water' by Ajahn Amaro, there's a section 'Emptiness' beginning:
Kind wishes,
Dazzle
The point of this is to demonstrate that "emptiness" is synonymous with "interdependent origination". This is important to realize as you understand more. Though the "chair" is a sum of it's parts which we call a chair, the chair is "dependent" upon these parts in order to be called that. But overall every part is also "dependent" upon other things and factors.
Another important point to see is that you can't really say that the chair doesn't exist, because it is plain to see that to Dazz that the chair she is sitting in is quite real to her and not just a bunch of particles or whatever.
I don't want to get to in depth here, but things do exist and function of the "conventional" level. It is advised to just leave it alone on the conventional level. A chair is a chair, it exists and it functions as such. Period.
When we begin analyzing, this is the "ultimate level". And through analysis, we won't find anything that truly exists from it's own side. As much as we analyze we will find nothing, instead that everything arises, dwells and ceases in dependence upon other causes and conditions.
I hope this is not too detailed, but it is important to not be pulled into one of the two extremes of "nothing exists" (nihilism), or "eternalism." In fact I've heard many teachers say that most of us, due to not understand the subtleties of this topic actually do still have one of the tenancies.
Start small, and begin examining some simple things around you, and ponder that for a while.
M
And so, "suchness" as we call it in Buddhism.
We see a lot so it takes great persistence to keep opening, and it doesn't mean you have to be a doormat. In fact you have the freedom to respond just about anyway, but karma is still active. Nonetheless whatever karmically happens you can always start again to make good karma.
The karma is not fixed that is why it is called emptiness. Everyone has a different spin on what a karmic result is because we are all different.
My base understanding of existance was rapidly broadened during this chance encounter. I now have over the years read all his books and have most of his recorded sessions.
A couple of his basic messages were "religious partisanship is not intellectually respectable" meaning claiming to be of this religion or that religion created seperation
as soon as the declaration is made. Most religious scholars agree that no thing is seperate and all is one but by declaring yourself of one religion intellecually you are in already appearing to be in conflict. One needs to be very carefull when treading in this area.
The other message that was clear was "once you have understood the message hang up the phone and get on with your life". Be wary of anyone who tells you "you must join us, or you must follow me, you must cling to this belief".
These are just a couple of examples of his many thoughts that caught my attention.
Some may debate his life, I can only tell you that he impacted me profoundly and I
spent 4 days with him in what turned out to be the last year of his life.
His name is Alan Watts. He wrote many books and there are many recorded sessions
of his lectures and musings. They vary widely in subject matter and entertainment value, Watts discribed himself as a philosophical entertainer.
Perhaps his words will work for you, have a look if you like.
I also find Eckhart Tolle interesting, but my kids tell me he is too boring, but again each to their own.
Radna
Oh yeah, You were asking for book suggestions, not just explanations. Well, one I could suggest is "How To See Yourself As You Really Are" by HH Dalai Lama, and another useful one might be "Introduction To Emptiness" by Guy Newland. These two try to "un-complicate" the subject as much as possible, however as you may find this is not such an easy task. I think it is good to gain an "introductory understanding" before looking at more difficult texts with more difficult concepts and language.
M
One that I liked is "Heartwood of the Bodhi Tree, the Buddha's teaching on voidness," by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu. I got the book from Wisdom Publications or Amazon, I don't remember. You might want to google for a free edition on line.
Worldling
Here it is:
http://www.what-buddha-taught.net/Books/BhikkhuBuddhadasa_Heart_Wood_from_the_Bo_Tree
_/\_
have fun!
When at a teaching on these topics it is also very common to begin each day by reciting the Heart Sutra. This can help to plant seeds as well.
Enjoy the retreat!
Mani
Pretty much all there is to say.