Emptiness Talks
Śūnyatā ( shoon-yə-TAH; Sanskrit: शून्यता; Pali: suññatā), translated most often as "emptiness", "vacuity", and sometimes "voidness", or "nothingness" is an Indian philosophical concept. In Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, and other Indian philosophical traditions, the concept has multiple meanings depending on its doctrinal context. It is either an ontological feature of reality, a meditative state, or a phenomenological analysis of experience.
In Theravāda Buddhism, Pali: suññatā often refers to the non-self (Pāli: anattā, Sanskrit: anātman) nature of the five aggregates of experience and the six sense spheres. Pali: Suññatā is also often used to refer to a meditative state or experience.
In Mahāyāna Buddhism, śūnyatā refers to the tenet that "all things are empty of intrinsic existence and nature (svabhava)", but may also refer to the Buddha-nature teachings and primordial or empty awareness, as in Dzogchen, Shentong, or Chan.
| Title | Speaker | |
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Poetry of EnlightenmentSerial: SF-00071 Class realization, Emptiness, Dragons, Balance, Bell, Priest, Emotions, Freedom, Doubt... |
Feb 04 1997 1 |
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Be Completely Who You AreSerial: SF-02709B Rohatsu Sesshin Emptiness, Suzuki Roshi, Happiness, Anger, Emotions, Zazen, Ceremony |
Dec 05 1996 Unknown |
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Just Die On ExhalationSerial: SF-02709A Rohatsu Sesshin "(a keeper)" Emptiness, Birth-and-Death, Letting Go, Composure, Bodhidharma, Impermanence, Posture... |
Dec 04 1996 Unknown |
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Sandokai Class Evil, Religion, Funeral, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Discrimination, Suzuki Roshi... |
Nov 25 1996 Green Gulch |
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Effort - While You're Already Perfect Heart Sutra, Suzuki Roshi, Emptiness, realization, Precepts, Passions, Right Effort,... |
Nov 13 1996 Unknown |
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Sandokai Class Oneness, Darkness and Light, Practice Period, Separation, Karma, Emptiness, Politics... |
Nov 13 1996 Green Gulch |
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Jewel Mirror Samadhi Class Five Ranks, Delusion, Absolute-and-Relative, Attachment, Emptiness, Soto Zen, Right... |
Oct 03 1996 Green Gulch |
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Resting in the Sisyphus Cycle Suzuki Roshi, Four Noble Truths, Dragons, Aspects of Practice, Zazen, Emptiness,... |
Sep 21 1996 Unknown |
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Awakening Compassion Through Non-DualitySerial: SF-00084 Wednesday talk. Patience, Suzuki Roshi, Emptiness, Letting Go, confusion, Demons, Absolute-and-... |
Sep 11 1996 Green Gulch Farm |
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Awakening Compassion Through Inner Silence Passions, Silence, Bodhisattva Way, Vow, Emptiness, Ceremony, Birth-and-Death,... |
Aug 03 1996 City Center |
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Lotus Sutra Class Lotus Sutra, Nirvana, Evil, Manjushri, Dragons, Vow, Buddha Nature, Emptiness,... |
May 23 1996 Green Gulch |
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Lotus Sutra Class Lotus Sutra, Nirvana, Emptiness, Offering, Four Noble Truths, Birth-and-Death,... |
May 21 1996 Green Gulch |
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Breathing Intimacy: Zen's Path to Self Suzuki Roshi, Emptiness, Intimacy, Zazen, Birth-and-Death, Zazen Mind, Dharma... |
Apr 24 1996 Unknown |
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Old Age, Sickness and DeathSerial: SF-03633 One-day sitting - Katagiri in Returning To Silence - Three kinds of thirsting desire Two Truths, Four Noble Truths, Emptiness, Funeral, Zazen, Continuous Practice,... |
Apr 20 1996 Green Gulch |
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Sunday LectureSerial: SF-03636 Cassette side B is labeled for a Sunday talk by Tenshin Reb Anderson on the same date - incorrect Practice Period, Ordination, Perfect Wisdom, Zendo, Emptiness, Ceremony, Monastic... |
Mar 24 1996 Green Gulch |
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Prajna Paramita Class Emptiness, Perfect Wisdom, Heart Sutra, Ego, Faith, realization, Lotus Sutra, Nirvana... |
Feb 27 1996 Unknown |
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The Greater Discourse and the Destruction of CravingSerial: SF-03231 Sunday Lecture Anger, Silence, Letting Go, Bell, Happiness, confusion, Suzuki Roshi, Bodhisattva... |
Nov 19 1995 Green Gulch |
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Women in Buddhism Class Emptiness, Balance, Liberation, Nirvana, Lay, Heart Sutra, Religion, Mahayana, Birth-... |
Nov 06 1995 Unknown |
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Sunday LectureSerial: SF-03626 Our practice and our efforts that we make towards peace within ourselves and within our lives Practice Period, Birth-and-Death, Karma, Emptiness, Giving-and-Taking, Zazen,... |
Nov 05 1995 Green Gulch |
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Embracing Oneness Through Zen Presence Hsin Hsin Ming, Composure, Emotions, Suzuki Roshi, Faith, Daily Life, Hate, Zazen,... |
Oct 25 1995 Unknown |
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Causes and ConditionsSerial: SF-03660 One-day sitting Emptiness, Posture, Book of Serenity, Subject-and-Object, realization, Buddha Nature... |
Oct 14 1995 Green Gulch |
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BodhidharmaSerial: SF-03627 Sunday Lecture Forgiveness, Three Treasures, Mindfulness, Bodhidharma, Emptiness, Precepts, Blue... |
Oct 01 1995 Green Gulch |
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Gospels Unveiled: Wisdom's JourneySerial: NC-00286 New Testament Class OSB Cam, Emptiness, Thoroughness, Patience, Compassion, Money |
Sep 20 1995 |
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Putting Our Effort Into SittingSerial: SF-03607 One-day sitting realization, Posture, Mindfulness, Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Emptiness, Harmonizing,... |
Sep 16 1995 Green Gulch |
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Embracing Wholeness Through Interconnection Emptiness, Suzuki Roshi, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Zazen, Global Warming,... |
Jul 26 1995 Unknown |
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Shantideva ClassSerial: SF-03203 Practice of Wisdom Interdependence, Emotions, Attachment, Emptiness, Zazen, Posture, Ego, Obstacles,... |
May 23 1995 Unknown |
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Embracing Constancy in Buddhist Practice Hate, Suzuki Roshi, Repentance, Constancy, Sangha, Practice Period, Tassajara Zen... |
Feb 22 1995 |
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Taoist Meditation Practice and the Hesychast Tradition / "Stillness-Contemplation": Lao Tzu, Evagrius, EckhartSerial: NC-00012 Session 3 & 4 of "Trinity and Tao: Christian and Taoist Spirituality" Talk 3: Taoist Meditation Practice and the Hesychast Tradition Talk 4: "... OSB Cam, Emptiness, Observe, Posture, Buddhism, Enlightenment |
1995 2 of 2 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Celibacy's Transformative Role in MonasticismSerial: NC-00131 Rule of Benedict Novice Class # 1 - 1990s OSB Cam, Emptiness, Pain, Oneness, Vow, Commitment |
1995 |
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The Idea of a Taoist Sage and Gospel Parallels / Taoist Metaphysical Vision and the Christian Concept of GodSerial: NC-00011 Session 1 & 2 of "Trinity and Tao: Christian and Taoist Spirituality" Talk 1: The Idea of a Taoist Sage and Gospel Parallels Talk 2: Taoist... OSB Cam, First Principle, Enlightenment, Darkness and Light, Breath, Emptiness... |
1995 1 of 2 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Christ, the Poets and the PersonSerial: NC-00047 Part of "The Awakening Self: The New Testament and the Poets" retreat. Archival Photo OSB Cam, Poetry, First Principle, realization, Buddhism, Emptiness |
1995 1 of 4 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Heart Sutra: Setting the SceneSerial: BZ-00952B Skandas and Emptiness, Rohatsu Day 4 Heart Sutra, Skandas, Emptiness, Heart Sutra, Four Noble Truths, Non-duality, Samadhi... |
Dec 07 1994 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Wednesday Lecture training, Practice Period, Heart Sutra, Subject-and-Object, Posture, Instruction,... |
Nov 30 1994 Green Gulch |
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Contemplative PrayerSerial: NC-01098 Contemplative Prayer Class OSB Cam, Emptiness, Renunciation, Obstacles, Fasting |
Aug 02 1994 9 of 11 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Contemplative PrayerSerial: NC-00881 Contemplative Prayer Class OSB Cam, Monastic Practice, Emptiness, Darkness and Light |
May 31 1994 3 of 11 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Madyamika/Yogachara Schools of Emptiness/SynthesisSerial: BZ-00964A Three Bodies of Buddha pt. II, Sesshin Day 2 Madyamika, Trikaya, Emptiness, Yogachara, Religion, Emotions, Karma, Sixth Patriarch... |
Mar 13 1994 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sunday LectureSerial: SF-03675 Includes Q&A and discussion Big Mind, Emptiness, Bell, Heart Sutra, Four Noble Truths, Instruction, Zazen,... |
Mar 13 1994 Green Gulch |
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The Meeting of American Culture and BuddhismSerial: SF-00103 Lecture Series Right Speech, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Fox, Half-Smile, Lay, Emptiness,... |
Mar 01 1994 City Center |
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The Meeting of American Culture and Buddhism: The ArtsSerial: SF-00008 Lecture Series New Year, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Emptiness, Lineage, Anger, Suzuki Roshi,... |
Feb 01 1994 City Center |
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Saturday LectureSerial: SF-04059 At times in Japanese history, Zen has been interpreted with a fascistic bent - we need to consider our practices carefully Emptiness, Four Noble Truths, Buddha Nature, Repentance, Rinzai, realization, Daily... |
Jan 08 1994 City Center |
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Contemplation and Inner ExperienceSerial: NC-00710 Class on contemplative prayer using Thomas Merton's The Inner Experience. Class III Contemplative Prayer Set 1 of 2 OSB Cam, Monastic Practice, Emptiness, Darkness and Light |
1994 3 of 10 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Contemplation and Inner ExperienceSerial: NC-00838 Class on contemplative prayer using Thomas Merton's The Inner Experience. Class IX Contemplative Prayer Set 2 of 2 OSB Cam, Emptiness, Renunciation, Obstacles, Fasting |
1994 9 of 10 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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The Spiritual Life is Not Separate from the MundaneSerial: BZ-00668B Saturday Lecture Emptiness, Happiness, Mundane Life, Greed, Teacher-and-Student, Religion,... |
Jul 18 1993 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Buddhism and American Culture Emptiness, Forgiveness, Letting Go, Samadhi, training, Emotions, Freedom, Four Noble... |
May 03 1993 City Center |
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Spiritual Teaching of the Brief Rule of Saint RomualdSerial: NC-00039 Part of "Spiritual Teaching of the Brief Rule of Saint Romuald" Talk #1 is missing. Archival Photo OSB Cam, Money, Emptiness, Letting Go, Daily Life |
1993 4 of 4 (#1 missing) New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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The Hermitage of the HeartSerial: NC-00042 Part of "The Hermitage of the Heart" Archival Photo OSB Cam, Letting Go, Daily Life, Emptiness, Enemies |
1993 3 of 3 New Camaldoli Hermitage |
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Women in Japanese Soto ZenSerial: SF-00097 Author reading from her book on the subject. Soto Zen, training, Monastic Practice, Ordination, Ceremony, Religion, Lay, Emptiness... |
Nov 25 1992 |
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Hokyo Zammai Class Five Ranks, Emptiness, Sixth Patriarch, Rinzai, Soto Zen, Buddha Nature, Evil,... |
Feb 19 1992 2 |
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Sunday Lecture Observe, Cultivation, Balance, Fox, Conversation, Don't Know Mind, Emptiness,... |
Feb 09 1992 Green Gulch |
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Prayer & the Rule of St. BenedictSerial: NC-00033 Part of "Prayer and the Rule of St. Benedict" Archival Photo OSB Cam, Intimacy, Emptiness, Posture, Sanctuary |
1992 1 of 4 New Camaldoli Hermitage |