“We are like travelers in a desert who exhaust themselves running after mirages, or like someone walking down a road at night mistaking the shadows of the trees for criminals or wild animals waiting to attack.” - Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, Modern Buddhism

Emptiness is the way things really are. Emptiness is not nothingness. It is the way things exist as opposed to the way they appear. Realizing emptiness is the method to release our mind from the ignorance of self-grasping. As the great Yogi Saraha said, “If your mind is released permanently from self-grasping, there is no doubt that you will be released permanently from suffering.” This is because the result of grasping tightly at appearances is that we develop self-cherishing, attachment, hatred, jealousy and other delusions, our mind becomes agitated and unbalanced, and our peace of mind is destroyed.

In these classes, Gen Norbu will introduce emptiness in a practical way, applying an understanding of emptiness to our fears and exaggerations about our body, our self, our world and other things. Start at the beginning of the series if you can, but if you miss the beginning then start when you are able.

Recommended reading: How to Transform Your Life by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Available in our shop, or free download here - How to Transform Your Life​​​

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April 17 - Letting Go of Our Body Issues: The Emptiness of Our Body

April 24 - Selflessness: The Emptiness of Our I

May 1 - Freedom from Extremes: The Emptiness of Phenomena

May 8 - Seeing Through the Illusion: Conventional and Ultimate Truths

May 15 - Living Lightly: The Practice of Emptiness in Our Daily Activities