How can we practically apply meditation on emptiness to our daily life? When we are facing difficulties and problems in our life, if we take time to sit, relax and mix our mind with emptiness, we will find our mind gradually becomes clear and calm. We can use this wisdom to let go of our problem, change our point of view and see the problem from a new perspective. Then we will understand the practical value of emptiness.

Ultimately, our problems will never be solved if we lack the wisdom realizing emptiness. Instead of always relying on temporary solutions, we can try to apply a direct and practical method for solving our problems. With kindness Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso is constantly encouraging us to improve our understanding of this precious subject. In his new book, Modern Buddhism, he says, “The is no greater method for experiencing peace of mind and happiness than to understand and meditate on emptiness… meditation on emptiness is the universal solution to all our problems.”

To learn more about this practical wisdom, drop-in for one of our study and meditation classes. You can check the calendar of upcoming classes here.

Question

From the book Modern Buddhism by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, pg 132, in the chapter on Ultimate Bodhichitta: “The only difference between emptiness and  unproduced  space is their object of negation.   The object of negation of unproduced space is obstructive contact whereas the object of negation of emptiness is inherent existence.”

Help!!!! What does this mean? I need a pie chart or something visual… Thanks ~ Stratford student

Answer

We should know that emptiness is a subtle subject. It takes time to become familiar with with terminology. However, because the object emptiness is so meaningful we should patiently try to learn and meditate on this special knowledge. The result of our sincere effort will be a gradual reduction in the strength of our delusions and an increasing feeling of freedom within the mind. Our mind will eventually be liberated from unhappiness and worry. This knowledge is the true method for making our mind pure and happy.

To address your particular quoted section, consider the example of an empty cup. When you see a cup sitting on the table and you say ‘it is empty’, you are referring to the fact that there is nothing filling the cup. It could be filled with many things like tea or water, but you can see that the cup has no liquids in it. Normally we say, ‘it is an empty cup’ when there is an absence of liquid. To know if the cup is an empty cup or not, you need to know what liquid is and then understand the absence of liquid. If the cup has no liquid, it is an empty cup. So the object of negation for the empty cup is liquid. When you realize the absence of the object of negation, liquid, you understand that the cup is empty. When you can understand what ‘object of negation’ means, then it is easier to understand the emptiness that Buddha explained.

Please patiently read Venerable Geshe-la’s explanation again and again. Reading wisdom words is not like reading the newspaper. There is so much meaning in each line. We can spend one hour carefully reading each page.

If we are sincerely interested in improving our understanding we can also consider joining the Foundation Program. This program is designed to support your Dharma study and practice. In each class, a Teacher will give line by line commentary and encouragement through five of Ven. Geshe-la’s books. When we have studied in this way, it makes a very special impression on our mind and helps us to experience the beauty of Dharma.

Thank you for your question.

With very best wishes and prayers,

Kelsang Yonten

Fortunately, Venerable Geshe-la has prepared a perfect manual for meditation. The  book is called The New Meditation Handbook. In this book you will find all the instructions you need for your practice. The essentials of how to begin your practice, how to set up a shrine, the background knowledge required for meditation and a list of the benefits of meditation.

In the Appendix at the back you will find Prayers for Meditation which you can use as a preparation before you meditate to ensure that your mind is filled with positive energy, free from obstacles and blessed by inspiration. With these preparatory practices, meditation is easy. If you wish to listen to these prayers there is a recorded version on the CD Songs of Good Fortune.

Both The New Meditation Handbook and Songs of Good Fortune will be available at all our classes.

You can begin your practice in this way…

1. Consider how important your peace of mind is. Maintaining a peaceful mind during your day will benefit everyone you connect with; friends, family, co-workers… everyone.

2. Make an intention to begin a regular meditation practice to cultivate and maintain a peaceful state of mind.

3. Read the preliminary sections of The New Meditation Handbook so you understand how to meditate.

4. Find a regular time during your day when you can unplug the phone, close the door and have some space to practice. Let your family know you will be concentrating so they will be mindful to avoid disturbing your meditation.

5. Recite Prayers for Meditation and concentrate on the meaning of the blessed words.

6. Pause just after “Receiving Blessings” which follows “The Prayer of the Stages of the Path”. Read the contemplation section of one of the twenty-one meditations. Create a clear understanding of the object of meditation.

7. When you have reached a clear object of meditation, put the book down and spend time focusing single-pointedly on the special feeling or understanding arising in your mind.

8. Watch your mind with mindfulness and alertness to remain with the object for as long as possible. If you mind wanders away, bring it back gently but firmly to the object.

9. Try to meditate for at least 10min. Ideally meditation would be 20min. – 30min. to give your mind time to become familiar with the object. It is more important to have a regular short meditation each day, rather then long periods of meditation done infrequently.

10. Finish reciting Prayers for Meditation and dedicate your merit to the welfare of all living beings.

11. During the meditation break, continuously use mindfulness and alertness to keep your new understanding with you. Try practically to integrate your understanding into your life. For example, if you meditated on ‘Cherishing Love’, try to maintain a feeling of loving-kindness during your interactions with everyone.

You can practice one stage of the twenty-one meditations each day. In this way you will become familiar with the entire path to enlightenment and see how each stage supports the others. It is very helpful to continue attending meditation classes. The best way to receive continuous enthusiasm for practice is to meet with other practitioners.

On September 14 we will be starting a new Meditation 101 course. Please join us!

If you have been meditating for a while, you may wish to use the prayers Heart Jewel instead of Prayers for Meditation to connect more deeply to the lineage blessings of the Kadampa Tradition.

If you have any questions or need personal advice, please email us at info@ModernBuddhist.ca

Good luck!

Dear JK,

Thank you for your thoughtful question.

I’m going to draw my answer from my Teacher’s book “8 Steps to Happiness” (pg. 91). In this section he is speaking about how to overcome self-cherishing, which is a selfish mind that neglects others:

We might ask: “If I had no self-cherishing, would that not mean that I dislike myself? Surely it is necessary to accept and love myself, for if I cannot love myself how can I love others?” This is an important point. In Training the Mind in Seven Points Geshe Chekhawa explains a number of commitments of training the mind, which serve as guidelines for Buddhist practitioners. The first of these states: ‘Do not allow your practice of training the mind to cause inappropriate behaviour.” This commitment advices Buddhist practitioners to be happy with themselves. If we are excessively self-critical we shall turn in upon ourself and become discouraged, and this will make it very difficult for us to turn our mind to cherishing others.

Although it is necessary to be aware of our faults, we should not hate ourself for them. This commitment also advises us to take care of ourself and look after our needs. If we try to live without basic necessities such as sufficient food and shelter we shall probably damage our health, and undermine our capacity to benefit others. Moreover, if people see us behaving in an extreme way they may conclude that we are unbalanced, and consequently will not trust us or believe what we say; and under such circumstances we shall not be able to help them. Abandoning self-cherishing completely is not easy and will take a long time. If we are not happy with ourself, or foolishly neglect our own well-being, we shall have neither the confidence nor the energy to effect such a radical spiritual transformation.

Does this section answer your question ?

I appreciate you taking time to consider and ask your question.

Best wishes,
Kelsang Yonten

Meditation is a method for acquainting our mind with virtue.

Virtue is anything that causes our mind to become calm and peaceful. Acquainting our mind with the attitude of loving-kindness for example will cause our mind to relax and let go of worries and mental discomfort.

If we train our mind to become peaceful we will be happy all the time, even in the most adverse conditions. But if our mind is not peaceful, even if we have the most pleasant external conditions we will not be happy. Therefore it is important to train our mind through meditation.

There are two types of meditation: analytical meditation and placement meditation. When we contemplate the meaning of a teaching that we have heard or read we are doing analytical meditation. By deeply contemplating the instruction, eventually we reach a conclusion or cause a specific virtuous state of mind to arise. This is the object of placement meditation.

Having found our object through analytical meditation, we then concentrate on it single-pointedly for as long as possible to become deeply acquainted with it. This single-pointed concentration is placement meditation. Often, analytical meditation is called simply ‘contemplation’, and placement meditation simply ‘meditation’.

Placement meditation depends upon contemplation, and contemplation depends upon listening to or reading Dharma instructions.

The best way to learn about meditation is to drop in to one of the Centre’s classes. The drop in program is available in many areas (Guelph, Cambridge, Kitchener/Waterloo, Elora, Creemore, and Stratford). Prayers for World Peace on Sunday mornings is a great way to get started.

There are also many books and CDs available on the subject of meditation. You can visit Tharpa Publications and order directly to your home.

Best wishes for your successful practice,

Kelsang Yonten