Expert: Justin Choo - 7/19/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi again!

Do you know who he was "Mahasiddhas", and what did he teach?

Also:Regard/contemplate all phenomena as illusory until Emptiness is realized.
How should I understand the word "Emptiness"?

thanks

ANSWER: Hi Luke,

For "Mahasiddha", please refer here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahasiddha

Quote: "Mahasiddhas (Sanskrit: maha - great, siddhas - achievers or adepts, who embody and cultivate siddhi) are a type of eccentric yogis or tantrikas important in Tantric Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism. A Siddha or adept is an individual who, through the practice of sadhana attains the realization of siddhis or psychic and spiritual abilities and powers."

Quote: "The term sadhana means spiritual exertion towards an intended goal. A person undertaking such a practice is known as a sadhu or a sadhaka. The goal of sadhana is to attain some level of spiritual realization, which can be either enlightenment, pure love of God (prema), liberation (moksha) from the cycle of birth and death (Samsara), or a particular goal such as the blessings of a deity as in the Bhakti (Devotion) traditions."

<<Regard/contemplate all phenomena as illusory until Emptiness is realized.
How should I understand the word "Emptiness"?>>

"Emptiness" concept in Buddhism is a unique revelation by the Buddha.  It is the 3rd characteristic of what we call the 3 characteristics of the nature of this world.  The Buddha expounded the trilogy of Anicca, Dukkha, Anatta, meaning Impermenance, Unsatisfactoriness, No soul or insubstantiality or emptiness.
This concept of emptiness can only be understood if one understands the concept of Anatta.  It takes some time and a lot of contemplation to understand Anatta.  The underlying concept of Anatta is that in the final analysis, there is nothing in this world which we can call our own.  As such it is "empty".  The Pali term is called Sunnata ( pronounce: Soon - ya - ta).  If one can really accept this concept then one is free from the clutches of the miseries of this world.  Our existence is mere emptiness.

Smile from justinchoo :-)





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi

I know, justinchoo, that in order to understand it I have to experience it for myself, get an insight, otherwise I'll be left with concepts only. But if I perceive all phenomena as illusory it means that something does not exist is empty. However if I see my dog I'm sure it's there, if I see a ghost than I may have some doubts if it's really there or it's just maybe a figment of my imagination, but again I may feel that what I see is real though I cannot explain it. Is it all an illusion then? How to practice emptiness? How do you do it?
Thanks again!

Answer
Hi Luke,

First we must understand that only the Buddha could discover the truth of existence.  We are mere ordinary mortals trying to understand what the Buddha had discovered.  If we could fully understand, then we would be saints (arahant) already.  Be that as it may, we shall just try our best to grasp whatever our level of intelligence is capable of understanding.  Let this be; and with patience and practice, we shall hope that one day we may be able to understand and realize the truth fully.  If we adopt this attitude, then we will not face problem in trying to want to fully understand everything that the Buddha taught.  Take it as a journey, not the destination that is important.  The destination may be unreachable but the journey itself is a lesson in life.

Coming back to your question, we shall adopt the above attitude.  We cannot "practise" emptiness.  It is in the realization through learning the Buddha's teachings and contemplation and meditation.  What we are experiencing in life IS real; not "emptiness".  It is the whole futile process of living (existence) that is "emptiness".  Now let us be an observer of a life cycle of a butterfly.  First the egg, then the caterpillar, followed by the pupa in the chrysalis, and finally emerged the butterfly.  All this process took only a few weeks, and the butterfly will die after another two weeks.  As an observer, we can SEE the futility of this cycle which is real; but don't we see the "emptiness" in this process?  As far as the butterfly is concerned, it is a real life.  As far as we observers are concerned, it is just a passing passage of one very short life.  This to me relates very well to the concept of "emptiness".  Imagine the butterfly to be you, maybe you could see this "emptiness" for real!

Smile from justinchoo :-)