Emptiness, Ghosts and Empties, Graceland, and Connectedness

In Buddhism there is a major philosophical insight described in the theory of emptiness. My understanding of this theory – honestly, calling it a theory diminishes its clear impact on reality – is infantile at best but in essence as I now understand it, emptiness is a recognition that how we see and interact with our world is based upon a fundamental error. That error is the assumption that the things we encounter in this life – people, material things, events, and even abstract concepts – are discrete intrinsically unique and exist independently of all other things (people, material items, events, etc.). This assumption leads to a whole host of what I would call “obstacles to enlightenment” – the greatest among them being ego. Think about it… without ego would we perceive anyone as better than or less than anyone else? Without ego would we have prejudice, conflict, attachment, or control issues? Again, working within my limited understanding, one of the realizations of the acceptance of emptiness is that all things are connected. That is to say, all things are subject to interaction with all other things. In more simplistic and demonstrative terms, none of us is an island. We are all susceptible to influence by external forces. I dare you to proclaim that you are not!

Personally, I don’t struggle with any of that. I am regularly impressed however by the magnitude of the impact external influences can have on who we are and what we become… Is anyone else besides me recoiling at my use of the word “external?” Isn’t THAT inconsistent with the theory of emptiness? Anyway, there are hundreds of influences exerted upon us every day by friends, family, the public, the (bleech!) media, and then those things to which we willing expose ourselves like books and mountains.

Each and every encounter has the potential to shape what we think, what we do, who we are, and what we become. But the emptiness, or more accurately the connectedness, can go deeper. A non-trivial transformation occurs when one internalizes the connectedness. Instead of being influenced or acted upon and then responding, when one really “gets it” – more to say understands, embraces, and incorporates this concept into their being – then one goes looking for the connections and then willingly accepts and appreciates those with learning attached. If in your personal pursuits, you explore this concept far enough you start reading and hearing phrases like “collective consciousness” or “the consciousness of many”. The idea that we are all connected, that we all share connections – whether it be only three degrees of separation or the carbon atoms from the same dinosaur or an often masked and rarely recognized spiritual unity – is a staggering concept for most. Embracing the emptiness, the collective consciousness, is a big step. It takes courage and it yields instinct and grace – all of which are subjects for future posts.

Continue to follow if you are inquisitive - and have the time. Don’t if neither exists.

Regards,
JR