| Scientists say that everything began in the emptiness | | | | Occasionally, one or two might catch a glimpse of |
| of space when a pea-sized piece of intensely dense | | | | another way. They might realize that what they |
| matter and energy exploded into what has become | | | | have been doing isn't working, nor does variations on |
| our universe. In the Zen Buddhist religion, it is said, | | | | the theme of what they have been doing work, and |
| "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Emptiness is | | | | then they might start to search. Perhaps they |
| no other than form, form is no other than | | | | stumble upon a book, or a person that mentions |
| emptiness." In other words, only in complete | | | | things that they have never considered before, |
| emptiness is there true creation. Without true | | | | things that are so detached from the mainstream |
| emptiness, all we have is facsimiles of truth. | | | | that they seem almost alien and of another |
| What is intimated here is the truth of each moment | | | | consciousness. |
| of existence, which is that each moment is | | | | But if they can get by these initial misgivings, and this |
| completely empty. We might fill up that moment with | | | | usually happens after they dive back into their familiar |
| all of our objects of affection and aversion, thereby | | | | world and see that nothing has changed, and that no |
| creating our own universe, but when we do that, | | | | matter what they do or how good life seems to be, |
| there is never creativity, only mundane duplicity. | | | | it eventually all crumbles around them. Then they |
| When our moments of emptiness are filled with our | | | | begin to catch on to the difference between true |
| thoughts, emotions, memories and plans, there is no | | | | creativity, and the false creativity fashioned by |
| possibility of our touching the truth of our emptiness. | | | | thought and mind. They begin to see the potential of |
| As long as we escape that truth of emptiness, we | | | | emptiness. |
| remain caught in our own net of stress. Life then | | | | This transcendent emptiness can be experienced |
| becomes, as the Buddha stated in his First Noble | | | | spontaneously if one is truly gifted; if one can |
| Truth: "Suffering." | | | | suddenly see the absurdity and the futility of a |
| Very few people have ever remained in their | | | | mind-driven existence, and how only in the absences |
| emptiness without a tremendous, fundamental shift | | | | of mind does destiny-changing creativity appear. But |
| occurring in their minds. Usually, no one will voluntarily | | | | few of us are that perceptive and gifted. Few of us |
| remain in their emptiness, and they will immediately | | | | can become immediately enlightened, simply because |
| attempt to escape it if they can. The doorway to | | | | our minds have been conditioned by lifetimes upon |
| emptiness is boredom and fear, and when we | | | | lifetimes of confusion. Most of us, once we see that |
| become bored or fearful, we quickly find something | | | | there must be another way, need to deprogram our |
| to distract us, and therefore bypass the opportunity | | | | minds that have led us into a morass of uncertainty |
| of something great, which is emptiness. | | | | and delusions. We don't know what to believe. |
| Sages and saints have experienced this emptiness, | | | | Although we say that we believe this or that, in our |
| and because of this rare encounter exhibits humility | | | | heart of hearts, we know that we don't know; we |
| and compassion. This humility, self-effacement, and | | | | only rely on what others tell us, and what others tell |
| compassion result from the experience of emptiness, | | | | is always caught within the dead files of mind, which |
| but more than that, it results from what comes out | | | | is delusion. |
| of the emptiness, which is an unbelievable creativity. | | | | The truth, the creativity of mind, that would be |
| This creativity has the exact potential that the | | | | possible regardless of what planet we lived on, what |
| fledgling universe had before it burst on the scene, | | | | cultural history we may have had, or what belief |
| and why the universe can always be seen as a | | | | systems that have developed in that culture, is the |
| microcosm in ourselves. When we see such things as | | | | creativity of mind that is possible for every human |
| compassion and humility, we don't realize that these | | | | being. This truth cannot be tainted by the |
| are the most creative forces in mankind, because | | | | non-creative mind; this truth is the result of an empty |
| they are the attributes that push mankind toward | | | | mind; a mind that has opened itself to the |
| the future consciousness, a future consciousness that | | | | tremendous latent energy that results from an |
| can only result from a tremendous creativity, now | | | | unfettered mind. |
| lying latent in the emptiness of all of us. | | | | So clear your mind. Concentrate your mind. |
| In the hustle bustle of the world, which only leads to | | | | Experience the emptiness yourself, and see what the |
| our eventual grief, we cannot fathom these kinds of | | | | results are. Don't be influenced by anyone except |
| things. They are too deep and distant from our | | | | yourself, because you must know for yourself. Put all |
| everyday experiences, our everyday intellect. And so | | | | the books down, listen to no one but your own |
| we stumble along following a mind of delusion and | | | | heart, and find the courage to remain in the |
| confusion, wondering why we can't seem to make it | | | | emptiness. |
| all good, no matter what we do. | | | | Here you will find your freedom. |