sunyata] The fact that phenomena and the ego are empty of, or lack, independent true existence. Lama Yeshe on Emptiness. Nonduality; non-self-entity; non-self-existence; totality. The absolute nature of the self and all phenomena
Tib. Tongpanyi, Skt. Shunyata] The fact that nothing outer or inner exists through or in itself. Everything arises from conditions, the ultimate nature of which is the potential of space.
Lack of inherent existence, the ultimate nature of phenomena. (Please note: People can study and meditate sincerely for years, or even lifetimes, before understanding the true meaning of 'emptiness'. Whatever it sounds to you like it means, be assured: it doesn't mean that.)
the state of containing nothing
an empty area or space; "the huge desert voids"; "the emptiness of outer space"; "without their support he'll be ruling in a vacuum"
The Sanskrit word is Sunya. One of the key concepts in Buddhism. Emptiness is an abstract idea representing impermanence, unreality, instability, transcience and relativity in the nature of all existence. The doctrine states that all phenomena and the ego have no reality, but are composed of a certain number of skandhas or elements, which disintegrate. The doctrine also states that everything is unstable, possessing no self-essence or self-nature, i.e., its own existence depdent or caused by the conditions of others' existence. Emptiness is not nothing, but it is the condition of existence of everything. It permeates all phenomena making possible their evolution.
Emptiness is usually the description of Enlightenment. To the western mind, this description is often difficult to comprehend, leading to the idea that it is "nothing," and therefore quite unattractive. Two points will help correct this view. First, "emptiness" can be understood as the Buddhist way of saying that Ultimate Reality is incapable of being described, much the way that many Christian theologians view the Christian God as beyond our human attempts to describe. Second, the "emptiness" should not be thought of an another place. Instead, it is identical to the world or universe humans experience in this life. In this way, it is much like the Hindu notion that this world is simply maya (illusion), which prevents humans from seeing the true unity of the cosmos (which in Hinduism means the identity of Atman and Brahman). Thus emptiness and the phenomena of this world are the same, or as the Heart Sutra says, "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form."
Full expression: "Emptiness of INHERENT EXISTENCE". The doctrine that all concepts and phenomena lack INHERENT EXISTENCE. See ULTIMATE TRUTH
The absence of all false ideas about how things exist; specifically, the lack of the apparent independent, self-existence of phenomena. Sometimes translated as "voidness."
(Skt. shunyata): In the mahayana, emptiness refers to the absence of self or ego in the mind and in its external projections. Refers to the fact that all conceptual frameworks are empty of any reality, of a solid and unchanging essence. Also refers to the absolute and pure quality of mind. Emptiness is taught as the central theme of prajnaparamita texts and madhyamika philosophy.
Emptiness is described as an elusive and disturbing feeling of numbness, inability to feel anything emotionally, or not having any purpose. It can be better described as a situation where a certain lack or lacks in one's life overtake the emotional and mental focus in an obsessive, sometimes subconscious manner. Feelings of emptiness often accompany chronic discontent, dysthymia, Downs, A.