Paramārtha śūnyatā
paramārtha śūnyatā (T. don dam pa stong pa nyid; C. shengyi kong 勝義空).[1] Translated as "emptiness of that which is ultimate", "emptiness of the highest", “emptiness of genuine reality”, etc.[2] One of the sixteen types of emptiness.[2]
The emptiness of that which is ultimate; i.e. the emptiness of nirvana[2]
The Madhyamakāvatāra states:
Nirvana is the supreme goal,
And therefore it is genuine reality.
Nirvana is empty of itself,
And this is the “emptiness of genuine reality.” (189)
To counteract the mind’s tendency to think that nirvana is a thing,
The Knower of Genuine Reality
Taught the “emptiness of genuine reality.” (190)[3]
The Garland of Radiant Light states:
The mind that accurately perceives emptiness to be the way entities actually are is said to be the "ultimate" because it is unmistaken. Because the ultimate itself is not essentially established, it is referred to as the "emptiness of the ultimate."[4]
Thrangu Rinpoche states:
The emptiness of the ultimate is the supreme of objects to be realized and it is utterly non-deceptive. Still, because we might begin to develop notions of it having a nature of its own, its lack of any such nature is pointed out by speaking about the emptiness of the ultimate.[5]
Notes
- ↑ Buswell & Lopez 2014, s.v. Lists of Lists, "sixteen emptinesses".
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2
don dam pa stong pa nyid, Christian-Steinert Dictionary
- ↑ Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso 2003, Appendix 3.
- ↑ Dharmachakra Translation Committee 2007, Chapter 1. The Characteristics, The Characteristics of Complete Purification.
- ↑ Thrangu Rinpoche 2000, Chapter 1.
Sources
Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Donald S. (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton University
Dharmachakra Translation Committee (2007), Middle Beyond Extremes: Maitreya's Madhyantavibhaga with Commentaries by Khenpo Shenga and Ju Mipham, Snow Lion Publications- Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso (2003), The Sun of Wisdom, translated by Ari Goldfield, Shambhala
- Thrangu Rinpoche (2000), Distinguishing the Middle from the Extremes. The root text by Maitreya and a Commentary by The Venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, Namo Buddha Publications