What is Emptiness?

What is Emptiness?

“Emptiness refers to the fact that things are not as solid and real as they seem. Something that we hold in our hands might appear completely solid and unchanging, but that’s an illusion. Whatever it may be, it is changing all the time, and when we investigate, we find change and fluidity where before we assumed permanence and solidity. This does not make the phenomenal world nothing; at the same time, its essential nature is not what we usually think it is. The sustained recognition of emptiness—of the knowing, luminous clarity that exists beyond concepts—is called the awakened or enlightened state. This state of mind transcends words and concepts. Because this state cannot be described by words and cannot be imagined by the conceptual mind, it lends itself to many different names and descriptions; it is a paradox that while our true essence is empty of conceptual thinking, we need concepts to express that very emptiness. Everyone has dimensions to their minds that are luminous, spacious, and empty. The issue is whether we recognize these aspects or not. Liberation arises only with recognition, not just from having these natural qualities.

Excerpt From
In Love with the World
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche & Helen Tworkov
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