EMPTINESS

I have found there to be different levels of emptiness, that various Buddhist texts speak of. Unless you have personally explored, contemplated and experienced results, it is difficult to say which of these views of emptiness are correct and which are similar or partial.

It is also considered a topic that should not be discussed in certain places with certain people, whether or not one has had some or much actual realization of it. Also, some groups believe it wrong to talk of your level of understanding/experience outside of the teacher-student relationship. Therefore, for the sake of contemplation/meditation purposes, I will address only the levels that I have read about in text - without expressing my personal findings, opinions, or experience.

The first level is that of worldly life being empty of purpose and value. This is more in tune with renunciation than emptiness, in that it leads one to discover the lack of reason in everyday lifestyle and necessitates the searching for something 'more', or in this case, something that is not empty.

The second level of emptiness refers to the emptiness of +oneself. It is when one discovers that there is no 'self', no 'I'. Some people are led to the wrong view that this negates ones existence entirely, whilst others may gather entry into deeper levels of understanding when disrobed from the veil of ego. It can be either painful or exhilarating to experience this type of emptiness.

The third level of emptiness deals with the mental functions. It is very similar to the second level, in that it is a challenging of the values of 'self' that brings it about. It stems more from an investigation of the internal mental functions than from the search for a personal self, however. One looks at the levels of function within the 'mind' and discovers that some are naturally arisen and some are created by 'mind-tools' such as emotions and uncontrolled thought. To locate this type of emptiness, you have to distinguish between the creations of your mind tools and that which naturally arises, recognizing the former as empty of reality and continuity, and the latter as uncreated and enduring.