A Heart Sutra Journey | Part Eight

"Form is exactly emptiness, emptiness exactly form. Sensation, conception, discrimination, awareness are likewise like this."

At first glance, it appears as if Avalokitesvara is repeating herself here, but there is a subtle distinction at play that is very important. Form and emptiness are not merely equal to one another - they are one another. There is absolutely no separation between them.

This is an important aspect if we are to fathom emptiness. As we have said: there is nothing nihilistic about emptiness. It is monolithic in that there is no outside reference that can be made to it. It has to be experienced in its totality.

Lest there be some sort of belief that mental constructs have some valid claim outside of emptiness and are somehow intrinsically self-existent, Avalokitesvara makes it clear that all are emptiness. There is no toehold here. Descartes' cogito ergo sum (I think, therefore I am)? That's emptiness, too.

With each step, practice emptiness. As any 'thing' comes up, before your mind labels it, place it in emptiness. Continue this practice on and on until all footprints are erased without a trace and even your own reflection is emptiness. Even if you see the Buddha, don't get stuck. Patiently fold him into emptiness, too. What is left here?

See the full text of the Heart Sutra at: https://oneriverzen.org/heart-sutra