--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: However, there is the danger in all broad…" description: "\"“However, there is the danger in all broad categorizations, such as the classification of Buddhist teachings as self-empty or other-empty, that they ob..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b79/karl-brunnholzl-4600_buddhism_however-there-is-the-danger-in-all-broad_921167.jpg" --- # However, there is the danger in all broad categorizations… ![“However, there is the danger in all broad categorizations, such as the classification of Buddhist teachings as self-empty or other-empty, that they obscure or prevent attempts to look seriously at the more subtle aspects of the issues at hand. In particular, to categorize certain masters as…” quote by Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b79/karl-brunnholzl-4600_buddhism_however-there-is-the-danger-in-all-broad_921167.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b79/karl-brunnholzl-4600_buddhism_however-there-is-the-danger-in-all-broad_921167.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b79/karl-brunnholzl-4600_buddhism_however-there-is-the-danger-in-all-broad_921167.jpg) > ““However, there is the danger in all broad categorizations, such as the classification of Buddhist teachings as self-empty or other-empty, that they obscure or prevent attempts to look seriously at the more subtle aspects of the issues at hand. In particular, to categorize certain masters as proponents of self-emptiness or other-emptiness may obstruct our view on the often individual and specific presentations of these masters. Moreover, such categorizations do not take into account that many masters comment on scriptures from different systems, such as Yogacara and Madhyamaka, in quite different ways that accord with the backgrounds of these systems. Also, since the teaching styles of individual masters are usually adapted to the capacities and needs of individual disciples, they may teach very different things in different situations.”” [Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-brunnholzl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Broad labels can hide the nuanced teachings of individual masters. **In simple terms:** Categories may miss details. Key Takeaway Seek specific context. Themes Buddhism interpretation nuance Mood analytical thoughtful Type academic critical When to use this quote - studying texts - teaching - personal practice - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts emptiness scholarship pedagogy Questions to Reflect On - What subtleties might be lost in categorization? - How can we honor both tradition and individuality? 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From”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/buddhist-teachings-are-meant-to-awaken-our-true-self-not-merely-to/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“The presentation of self in everyday life. This guy Goffman had the idea that in different situations, you perform yourself differently. Your character isn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/the-presentation-of-self-in-everyday-life-this-guy-goffman-had-the/) [E. 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As long as we are getting identified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadhguru/as-long-as-one-is-in-pursuit-of-something-or-the-other-it-is-an/) [Sadhguru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadhguru/) > [Kids don't like being put into boxes, and your kid can act in different ways in different situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/kids-don-t-like-being-put-into-boxes-and-your-kid-can-act-in/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) ## More by Karl Brunnholzl > [“Pawo Rinpoche comments that, in Tibet, the intention of the lineage of profound view is usually explained as self-emptiness, that is, as a nonimplicative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-brunnholzl/pawo-rinpoche-comments-that-in-tibet-the-intention-of-the-lineage-of/) [Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-brunnholzl/) > [“One may wonder, "What is seeing the ultimate?" It means that all phenomena are not seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-brunnholzl/one-may-wonder-what-is-seeing-the-ultimate-it-means-that-all/) [Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-brunnholzl/) > [ “Hence, \[emptiness\] is also not an object of \[something like the\] cognition of Buddhas, because they do not have \[such a thing as\] cognition.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-brunnholzl/hence-emptiness-is-also-not-an-object-of-something-like-the-cognition/) [Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-brunnholzl/) > [ “Here, master Bhavya states \[this as\] the main argument, and then he formulates four autonomous reasons as the means to prove the subject property.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-brunnholzl/here-master-bhavya-states-this-as-the-main-argument-and-then-he/) [Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-brunnholzl/) > [“In general, every negation must depend on the rejection of an affirmation or proposition, which means that emptiness as a nonimplicative negation is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-brunnholzl/in-general-every-negation-must-depend-on-the-rejection-of-an/) [Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-brunnholzl/) > [“Therefore, everything is the illusory magical display of one's own mind. 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Under analysis,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-brunnholzl/whether-on-the-level-of-no-analysis-or-with-analysis-it-is-never/) [Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-brunnholzl/) > [“To reiterate, no such divisions existed in India. Some Tibetans, such as Mikyo Dorje and Pawo Rinpoche, refused to follow either of these later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-brunnholzl/to-reiterate-no-such-divisions-existed-in-india-some-tibetans-such-as/) [Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-brunnholzl/) > [“If the mere nonexistence of attention and mental engagement is taken to be "nonattention" and "mental nonengagement," it is to be analyzed in what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-brunnholzl/if-the-mere-nonexistence-of-attention-and-mental-engagement-is-taken/) [Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-brunnholzl/) > [“However, neither victory nor defeat comes about through the words of the other party alone. 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