Doe Quote by Nhat Hanh
“'Emptiness' means empty of a separate self. It is full of everything, full of life. The word emptiness should not scare us. It is a wonderful word. To be empty does not mean non-existent. Emptiness is the ground of everything. Thanks to emptiness, everything is possible.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching, 1999
Emptiness means lacking a separate self, yet it is the basis for all existence and possibility.
In simple terms: Emptiness is the foundation of everything.
Key Takeaway
Embrace emptiness to see interconnection.
Themes
philosophy
spirituality
interdependence
Mood
calm
inspired
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- meditation
- daily life
- teaching
Key Concepts
emptiness
self
potential
Questions to Reflect On
- How does emptiness change your view of self?
- What possibilities arise from seeing interdependence?
A Different Perspective
Emptiness can be misunderstood as nihilism.
![“I remember having a discussion with [Kaz] about his translation of the word shunyata as "boundlessness," instead of the more traditional "emptiness." I said: "Kaz, everyone is used to the word emptiness for shunyata. This might not sit well with people. He said: "Translator's prerogative!" Then he…” quote by Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/410/joan-halifax-11817_assuming_i-remember-having-a-discussion-with-kaz_727693.jpg)
![“Nagarjuna's verse 46]-is extensively taught. [Madhyamaka or emptiness] means being without characteristics that define true reality. It [means] to be unarisen, since it is neither existent nor nonexistent. It is neither something existent that has already arisen nor something nonexistent that is…” quote by Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f8e/karl-brunnholzl-4600_buddhism_nagarjuna-s-verse-46-is-extensively-taug_2757063.jpg)
