Prakṛti śūnyatā
prakṛti śūnyatā (T. rang bzhin stong pa nyid རང་བཞིན་སྟོང་པ་ཉིད་; C. benxing kong 本性空). Translated as "emptiness of nature", "emptiness of essential nature", etc.[1][2] One of the sixteen types of emptiness.[1]
Lack of inherent existence of the nature of all phenomena.[1]
In this context, "nature" refers to the potential for enlightenment, which pervades all sentient beings. Because of this "nature", or potential, one is has the capacity to attain buddhahood. This nature is understood to be empty.[3]
The Madhyamakāvatāra states:
The very essence of the composite and everything else
Was not created by the students (shravakas), the solitary buddhas,
The bodhisattvas, or even the tathagatas. (198)
Therefore, this essence of the composite and so forth
Is explained to be the true nature of phenomena.
It itself is empty of itself —
This is the “emptiness of the true nature.” (199)[4]
The Garland of Radiant Light states:
The natural presence of the potential is called "nature." Its emptiness is termed "emptiness of nature." One meditates on this emptiness to fully purify the potential itself, because when stains, in the form of a conceptualization of this potential, are purified, the potential will be actualized.[5]
Thrangu Rinpoche states:
The emptiness of the nature... In this case, the nature refers to the potential for enlightenment that exists within all sentient beings, that is, sugatagarbha. We might mistakenly believe sugatagarbha is a thing, some sort of real actuality. If we take sugatagarbha to be a real solid thing, we would not be able to manifest sugatagharba and therefore reach enlightenment. Therefore, for sugatagarbha to become manifest, we meditate upon its emptiness. That emptiness is then called "the emptiness of the nature."[6]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2
rang bzhin stong pa nyid, Christian-Steinert Dictionary
- ↑ Buswell & Lopez 2014, s.v. Lists of Lists, "sixteen emptinesses".
- ↑ Lecture notes on the Madhyāntavibhāga, 2019-2020.
- ↑ Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso 2003, Appendix 3.
- ↑ Dharmachakra Translation Committee 2007, "The Characteristics of Emptiness".
- ↑ 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