Expert: Justin Choo - 12/20/2010

Question
Hi Justin

I am new to Buddhism. One of the key teachings of Buddhism is about how everything eventually leads to nothing, emptiness. We are encouraged to let go, to forsake our own perceptions and accept dharma in our daily lives.

I find great difficulty in reconciling this "emptiness" with how we go about in our daily lives. In this society, everybody has a role to play. We encourage everyone to excel in their roles to make this world a better place for everybody. Without the excellent work of the past contrubitors, we won't be talking here, thousands of miles apart.

Emptiness seems to imply futile effort, defeating-the-purpose. Even if the whole universe should come to nothing (not surprised) and re-emerge some other day, each of us has still to do his/her very best while he/she is breathing on this planet. That's the basic responsibility of every human being. So I find it hard to accept emptiness as the underpinning teaching in the absence of a more positive attitude (at least, I haven't come across one in the books I have read).

Please en-lighten.

Answer
Hi Michael,

Welcome to the path of contentment and inner peace.  The journey along this path is a long and difficult one, and most likely the person will not be able to reach the destination in this lifetime.  However, while the person is travelling along this path, this person will get to experience the inner peace, personal contentment and happiness in life.

Let us now consider the Buddha's teachings. The Buddha's teachings are about universal truths or ultimate truths. These truths are truths irrespective of who you are or where you are. In other words, these truths transcend race, nationality, belief, and even time and space. These truths are universal and cannot change. The 3 characteristics of the nature of this world are universal truths. They are impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, and without substance or "emptiness". In each of us, there are also 3 universal truths. They are greed, hatred, and delusion. They vary in intensity at different times and in different people.

The other truths are what we call conventional truths. These truths are based on convention and acceptance by the people who are concerned with them. Examples of conventional truths are money, laws of the country, customs, etiquette, culture, rites and rituals, and many other such conventional conduct and behaviour. These may not be considered as good or bad, although generally, they are for the benefit and protection of the population.

We may add another dimension of "conventional truth" and that is, how we conduct our daily activities in order to progress and live a meaningful and happy life.

As lay persons, we are subject to abide by these conventional truths so that we can live in harmony within our society, and also to improve our standard of living. However, at times conventional truths may not be in congruent with universal truths. Likewise our conventional thinking may not be able to understand and accept the Buddha's teachings of ultimate truths. We simply have not the mental or "wisdom" foundation to understand the Buddha's revelation of the ultimate truths.

Coming back to your question; what we experience with our senses are very real in this world. However, in the ultimate analysis, they are just passing images or experiences. After some time all our experiences will also pass away, and in the end we also follow suit; just to start all over again in this cycle of births and deaths. In this sense, they are all "illusions", or "emptiness". As a lay person, one can still find happiness and contentment by practising the teachings of the Buddha to live a harmless and noble life. By understanding and accepting the true nature of this world and this life, one can live a happy and contented life by balancing the dictates of conventional requirements with the wisdom of universal truths. This means that although we understand the ultimate truths, they do not prevent us from carrying on with our "normal" life, pursuing material happiness and human advancement.  

As lay Buddhists, in knowing these ultimate truths, we are more mindful of the vicissitudes of life.  When good things come our way, we don't get too overjoyed.  And when unhappy events strike us, we likewise don't over-react.  In other words, Buddhists try to be equanimous to all situations.  In this way, one will be able to experience inner peace and contentment in life.

Hope you are clearer now.

Please come back if you need further clarifications.

Take care, and be happy.

Justin Choo