Insight Into Emptiness (Dalai Lama)-EP07 #motivation

 Advanced Level of the Mahayana Thought Training. After each verse, a commentary by His Holiness Dalai Lama is provided.

The goal of the advanced level training is to explore the insight of emptiness, in order to realize the ultimate truth of the mundane world. "Emptiness" is a central concept in Buddhist philosophy, particularly in the Mahayana tradition. It refers to the idea that all phenomena lack inherent or independent existence, and that their existence is dependent on other factors or causes and conditions. According to the Dalai Lama, emptiness is not a nihilistic or pessimistic view of reality, but rather a profound insight into the nature of existence. It is a way of understanding the interdependent nature of all things, and recognizing that everything arises in dependence upon other factors. The Dalai Lama often uses the analogy of a table to illustrate the concept of emptiness. A table appears to have an inherent existence as a solid, permanent object. But upon closer examination, we can see that the table is composed of various parts, such as legs, a tabletop, and screws or nails holding it together. These parts are themselves composed of even smaller parts, and so on, until we reach the level of atoms and subatomic particles. Ultimately, there is no "table" as an independent or inherent entity; it is merely a designation given to a collection of parts that have been arranged in a particular way. Similarly, the Dalai Lama teaches that all phenomena are like the table, lacking inherent or independent existence. Everything is interdependent, arising in dependence upon causes and conditions, and designated or labeled according to convention. Understanding emptiness is seen as crucial to the Buddhist path, as it helps to overcome the misconception of a fixed and permanent self, and to cultivate wisdom and compassion. It is said that by recognizing the emptiness of all things, we can free ourselves from attachment, aversion, and ignorance, and ultimately achieve liberation from suffering. #mindfulness #meditation #motivational