What is Emptiness?

[Gareth]

I have recently been reading "Hua-yen Buddhism: The Jewel Net of Indra", by Francis H. Cook. after seeing a recommendation by Jundo in another thread. It is a really nice read so far, and he has the following to say about emptiness and identity:

The point to the doctrine of indeterdependence is that things exist only in interdependence, for things do not exist in their own right. In Buddhism, this manner of existence is called "emptineess" (Sanskrit sunyata). Buddhism says that things are empty in the sense that they are absolutely lacking in a self-essence (svabhava) by virtue of which things would have an independent existence. In reality, their existence derives strictly from interdependence. If things possessed essences or substances of a metaphysical nature, then there truly would be real, ultimate differences between things. However, if each experiential datum, whether material or mental, derives its existence and meaning purely through its dependence on everything else, then it is not ultimately unique at all, but must be seen as identical with everything else in its emptiness. Thus, to be identical with everything else means to share in the universal interdependence, or intercausality, of all that exists.

Gassho,
Gareth

Sat today, Lah

[Ippo]

Typical zen [emoji1] [emoji23]
You know, Hui Neng, at the end of his life, in his final instructions told his disciples to teach by answering everything in opposites, so if a question is asked in affirmative, to answer it in negative, if something is asked about a sage, the reply should be about an ordinary man etc.. The reason was to point to the interdependence of the two opposites. Basically, it is not wise to look at things as if they are just one clear fixed entity, cause nothing is that and that is not the buddha mind. So yeah, “zenny” answers sometimes, for sure hahaha

[emoji1374] Sat Today

I think, maybe Hui Neng, also tried to embody in his students not just interdependence but also the illusion of opposites. It's just one great Ocean, waves high, waves low.

Should we ask him his meaning ??

Gassho,

Ippo

SatToday

[tclark7]

Emptiness is not empty. Emptiness is potential. It's not a lack of anything, but rather a state of full openness. It's the wish (or non-wish) to be anything, everything, nothing, the thing.
Zazen is a tool which allows things to fall from you, it's not "letting go" in an active sense. More like water off a duck's back. When things fall from you, you haven't lost anything. You've created that potential.
Gassho
ST
Tim

[Bion]

I think, maybe Hui Neng, also tried to embody in his students not just interdependence but also the illusion of opposites. It's just one great Ocean, waves high, waves low.

Should we ask him his meaning ??

Gassho,

Ippo

SatToday

What are opposites but interdependence? There is no good without evil, sweet without sour, light without dark

[emoji1374] Sat Today

[Bion]

What is Emptiness?

Emptiness is not empty. Emptiness is potential. It's not a lack of anything, but rather a state of full openness. It's the wish (or non-wish) to be anything, everything, nothing, the thing.
Zazen is a tool which allows things to fall from you, it's not "letting go" in an active sense. More like water off a duck's back. When things fall from you, you haven't lost anything. You've created that potential.
Gassho
ST
Tim

Even “potential” is empty, as it takes things for things to become something else, and even beyond that, it takes thinking to come up with the concepts of “potential” and “becoming”. And I would not call zazen a tool of any kind, really, but a state of being in which there are no “no things” to fall from “no person”, nothing to lose or create.

[emoji1374] Sat Today

[Tobiishi]

Gassho all, interesting thread...

It's interesting how hard we try to use words to describe things we admit are undescribable. Approximations, inferences, like shining a light around a dark room hoping to catch the shadow of a ghost. I appreciate all the effort, really, but at the end of the day there's no way to understand it logically, rationally. It's akin to an emotion, arising from within, without preamble. My own words are just as inadequate and silly to behold.


Kodo Tobiishi sat today, lah

[Ippo]

What are opposites but interdependence? There is no good without evil, sweet without sour, light without dark

[emoji1374] Sat Today

I think you missed my inquiry a bit, perhaps easy to do when you're speaking from a place of authority

Gassho,

Ippo

SatLAh

[Bion]

What is Emptiness?

I think you missed my inquiry a bit, perhaps easy to do when you're speaking from a place of authority

Gassho,

Ippo

SatLAh

I thought we were saying the same thing! [emoji28] I did miss your inquiry in that case. I do apologize for sounding authoritative and I’ll try to do better. [emoji1374]

[emoji1374] Sat Today

[Ippo]

I thought we were saying the same thing! [emoji28] I did miss your inquiry in that case. I do apologize for sounding authoritative and I’ll try to do better. [emoji1374]

[emoji1374] Sat Today

Hey Bion, many times I've done the same; I should have qualified that in my comment. I too, will try to be better . I often 'get in the way' of things (things as they are).

Chat soon my friend,

Gassho

Ippo

SatToday