Mahasiddha Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche explained that when we meditate on the emptiness of the body we normally perceive, we develop a an understanding or belief that the body we normally see does not exist. We ascertain the emptiness of our body in meditation, but then our problems return when we arise from meditation because we forget what we experienced; we develop self grasping doubt that believes the body we normally perceive does really exist. The same is so for our self and all other phenomena. We develop a correct view based on wisdom, then we give in to the usual doubt. We need to remember what we experienced in meditation as being the truth, then understand that appearances are their emptiness appearing as things. They are non dual - appearance and emptiness. When we gain this knowledge, appearances themselves should remind us if their emptiness and we should maintain this continually to solve our daily problems.
He also transmitted the uncommon yoga of inconceivability of Vajrayogini through which Dakiniland can be accomplished without abandoning the human body. If you have not received this, nows the time to request the Protector to arrange conditions for you to! Beautiful!!
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso is truly very compassionate to expound the Wisdom Teachings on Emptiness and transmitted the Uncommon Yoga of Inconceivability of Vajrayogini. The Uncommon Yoga of Inconceivability of Vajrayogini is not commonly given by Geshe-la in NKT Festivals! Attendees of the recent Fall Festival 2013 in Portugal are very fortunate indeed! I rejoice in their good fortunes!
Thank You psylotripitaka for sharing Geshe-la’s teaching on emptiness here. It is very profound and useful for us to contemplate and meditate on. In one paragraph, you had summarised the essence of the emptiness teachings by Geshe-la!
Here’s my understanding, correct me if I am wrong!
Correct View of Emptiness – the body that we normally perceive does not exist inherently. We meditate on this view continuously until we gain realisation of it.
Post Meditation – we forget the emptiness of our body and grasps at the appearance of our body as real. We must remember the object of our meditation which is “the body that we normally perceive does not exist inherently”. The same goes for all the other phenomena.
Appearances are their emptiness appearing as things – All phenomena lack inherent existence. It is due to their emptiness that all phenomena manifest.
Appearances and their emptiness are non-dual – This means what appears to us are also their emptiness. They are the same nature.
Hence, we should not grasp at the appearance of objects because these objects do not exist inherently. We must familiarise ourselves with this correct view continuously until we gain a realisation of it. With the correct understanding of the true nature of all phenomena even at the intellectual level initially, we can solve some of our daily problems. Eventually we can solve all problems!
