Emptiness

Question 1

5 Points Equating Emptiness to Dependent Origination

Answer 1

1) Emptiness
2) Emptiness equals emptiness of independent existence
3) Emptiness of independent existence means nothing exists independently
4) If nothing exists independently then everything must exist by dependence
5) Everything is dependently arisen

Question 2

2 Points Equating Dependent Origination and the Middle Way

Answer 2

1) Dependent is rejecting independence and therefor absolutism

2) Origination is rejecting non-existence and therefore nihilism

Rejecting absolutism and nihilism is the Middle Way

Question 3

3 Conditions for Cause and Effect (Arya Asanga)

Answer 3

1) Unwavering Condition - where there is an effect there must be a cause, no random results

2) Condition of Impermanence - the causes must be impermanent because they lead to effects and change

3) Condition of Potentiality - the cause has potential to give rise to the result (apple seeds grow apple trees not bananas)

Question 4

3 Points from the Rice Seedling Sutra

Answer 4

1) Whoever sees dependent origination sees the Dharma and whoever sees the Dharma sees the Buddha (within).

2) Because this exists, that exists. Because this is produced, that is produced.

3) Because of ignorance karma is created, because of that consciousness is created followed by name and form, senses, contact, feeling, attachment, grasping, becoming, birth, ageing, death and bewilderment.

When ignorance ceases, karma ceases and so too consciousness etc and the heap of miseries will stop.

Question 5

3 Levels of Dependent Origination (HHDL)

Answer 5

1) Dependent origination of the results dependence on causes

2) Dependent origination of the whole’s dependence on parts

3) Dependent origination of dependence on mere mental designation

Question 6

5 Sets of Opposites

Answer 6

1) Subjective vs Objective
2) Conventional vs Ultimate
3) Dependent vs Independet
4) Deceptive vs True Existence
5) Relative vs Absolute

Question 7

Reasoning of the 4 Essentials to Establish Emptiness

Answer 7

1) Essential of identifying the object of negation
2) Essential of understanding the emptiness of the object being intrinsically one with its parts
3) Essential of understanding the emptiness of objects being intrinsically different from its parts
4) Essential of understanding the pervasion that anything that is empty of being intrinsically one or different from its parts entails the emptiness of objective existence of that thing

Question 8

Reasoning to Establish Emptiness by Rejecting the 7 Modes (Archarya Chandrakirti)

Answer 8

1) Oneness
2) Differentness
3) Dependent
4) Dependee
5) Appropriation/ Possession
6) The Collection
7) The Special Shape

Question 9

6 Elements

Answer 9

1) Earth
2) Air
3) Fire
4) Water
5) Space
6) Consciousness

Question 10

5 Points to Ponder in Meditation on Emptiness

Answer 10

1) Self
2) 6 Elements
3) 2 Questions - What are you seeing? Where is the self?
4) Meditative equipoise of space like emptiness
5) Post meditative experience of illusion like emptiness