Sarva dharma śūnyatā
sarva dharma śūnyatā (T. chos thams cad stong pa nyid; C. yiqiefa kong 一法空). Translated as "emptiness of all phenomena", "emptiness of all dharmas", etc.[1][2] One of the sixteen types of emptiness.[1]
In this context, "all dharmas" is variously described as:
- all outer and inner phenomena[1]
- the names we give to things. "For example, the name fire is empty of its own essence."[3]
- the qualities of a buddha's mind, i.e. the qualities of the dharmakaya (according to the Madhyantavibhaga)[4][5][6]
The Madhyamakāvatāra states:
The eighteen potentials, the six types of contact,
And from those six, the six types of feeling,[7]
All that has form and all that does not,
The composite and the noncomposite—these compose all phenomena. (200)
All of these phenomena are void of themselves.
This is the “emptiness of all phenomena.” (201ab)[8]
The Garland of Radiant Light states:
Here, the qualities of the Buddha are spoken of as "all phenomena." This includes the powers, the fearlessnesses, the unique qualities and so forth. Their emptiness is referred to as "the emptiness of all qualities." One meditates on their emptiness to obtain the complete perfection of these qualities. This occurs by purifying the stain of taking the qualities of the Buddha to be real. The Bodhisattvas accomplish the path by observing emptiness in these ways.[4]
Thrangu Rinpoche states:
The emptiness that has its own characteristics and the emptiness of all phenomena will be discussed together because both are related with the nature of Buddhahood. Meditating upon these emptinesses is intended to counter attachment to a Buddha's good qualities of body, mind, and so forth.
First, the emptiness of that which has its own characteristics refers to the nature of a Buddha's extraordinary physical qualities, such as the |thirty-two primary and the eighty secondary marks.
Secondly, the emptiness of all dharmas refers to the emptiness of a Buddha's extraordinary qualities of mind. All dharmas then refer to a Buddha's mind, such as the eighteen qualities of a Buddha, the Buddha's ten powers, the Buddha's four fearlessnesses and the other unusual, extraordinary enlightened qualities of a Buddha's mind.[5]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2
chos thams cad stong pa nyid , Christian-Steinert Dictionary
- ↑ Buswell & Lopez 2014, s.v. Lists of Lists, "sixteen emptinesses".
- ↑ Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso 2003, Appendix 3, fn 54.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Dharmachakra Translation Committee 2007, "The Characteristics of Emptiness".
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Thrangu Rinpoche 2000, Chapter 1.
- ↑ Lecture notes on the Madhyāntavibhāga, 2019-2020.
- ↑ The six types of contact are the contact between the six inner sources of consciousness and their respective objects. The six types of feeling are the pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral sensations that arise as a result of the six. [Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamsto 2003]
- ↑ Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso 2003, Appendix 3.
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