The whole teachings or essence of Buddhism is that we have Buddha nature, i.e. we are already Buddha, if we can recognize that, then that’s it. But, if we can’t recognize that, and as an aid to recognizing that we can discover, recognize or realize shunyata. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form etc. So if the students aren’t ready to just hear/recognize their Buddha nature, shunyata should be taught. These are simply notes from a talk used in a discussion group on the topic.
https://app.groove.cm/groovevideo/videopage/166600/wppo3cb570390adb892d1cec2fde7d53374fe
A lot of intro, talk about India, Tibet and so on.
But once he got started the highlights for me were.
- The whole teachings or essence of Buddhism is that we have Buddha nature, i.e. we are already Buddha, if we can recognize that, then that’s it.
- However, if we can’t recognize that, and as an aid to recognizing that we can discover, recognize or realize shunyata. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form etc. So if the students aren’t ready to just hear/recognize their Buddha nature, shunyata should be taught.
- Buddhism does not see a genesis, an original starting point, a creator. Everything is dependent arrising. Without beginning or end.
- The view is of utmost importance. Why be compassionate, why love thy neighbor, why follow any precepts or believe in karma? It is a path to realize the view. First we intellectually hold the view, then we may actually hold the view. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form, things are ,Iike a dream, empty yet real. “Existence” itself should be examined.
- There are three ways we can discover the view or our Buddha nature, seeing things as they actually are, beyond (before?) duality.
- A master can point it out and if the student is open and ready they will see it
- through analogy
- and through reasoning.
- It will be important to agree on the meaning of some terms, such as:
- Exists
- True or truly
Thus I have heard, maybe correctly, maybe incorrectly.
