Emptiness in Buddhism (Sunyata)

The Buddhist term "Emptiness", or Sunyata/Shunyata, often gets overlooked by most new Buddhists. However, it is a very fundamental concept that is even the foundation of Mahayana Buddhism.

It is similar to the teaching of non-self/no-self where we say that all sentient beings (you, me, etc.) do not have an unchanging, independent, everlasting "self". However, emptiness goes a step further saying that ALL phenomena, not just sentient beings, lack this independent, unchanging, everlasting "self". All phenomena are called "dharmas" in Buddhism (note the smaller case 'd' to differentiate itself from the term 'Dharma' which means the Buddha's teachings).

"Empty", in the term "emptiness", means that all phenomena are empty of having an unchanging, independent, everlasting 'self'. And with this emptiness, it allows dependent origination to exist. Dependent Origination is what Siddhartha Gautama awakened to under the Bodhi Tree which allowed him to become the Buddha. It teaches that all things (dharmas) arise and fall due to causes and conditions. But how can things arise and fall if they are not empty? If there was no emptiness, then 'you' could not have had the ability to exist right now. Things must be empty for them to arise (temporarily), but it also means that they will not always be.

Nirvana, however, is our natural state which is everlasting because it is devoid of form. It is supreme emptiness. Yet, we are blinded to this truth due to delusion - which is why Buddhism is practiced in the first place! When one sees the true nature of emptiness, all the other concepts in Buddhism fall into place. Then we are awakened/enlightened to our natural state of Nirvana.

Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh gave this example:

"If I am holding a cup of water and I ask you, “Is this cup empty?” you will say, “No, it is full of water.” But if I pour out the water and ask you again, you may say, “Yes, it is empty.” But empty of what? Empty means empty of something. The cup cannot be empty of nothing. “Empty” doesn’t mean anything unless you know “empty of what?” My cup is empty of water, but it is not empty of air. To be empty is to be empty of something. This is quite a discovery. When Avalokita says that the five skandhas are equally empty, to help him be precise we must ask, “Mr. Avalokita, empty of what?”"

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