form and emptiness

Form is the appearance, but its essence is emptiness; therefore, form is no different from emptiness, form is emptiness; moreover, from emptiness arise conditioned phenomena (form and emptiness), so emptiness is no different from form, emptiness is also form. In the “Heart Sutra,” the Buddha said: “Form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form”; form is emptiness, emptiness is form.” (Form and emptiness are no different from true emptiness, true emptiness is no different from form; form and emptiness are true emptiness, true emptiness is form and emptiness). This means that beyond form and emptiness there is true emptiness, and beyond true emptiness there are no form and emptiness. Understanding this principle, we will avoid bias (which is the root of suffering), even though the terms “form” and “emptiness” still exist in language. Upon realizing the principle of “form and emptiness,” Venerable Tuệ Trung Thượng Sĩ said:

“From non-existence to existence, existence and non-existence are interconnected,
Existence and non-existence are ultimately the same.
Afflictions and enlightenment are originally non-dual,
True reality and deluded thoughts are all emptiness.”

The body is like an illusion, karma like a shadow,
The mind is like a gentle breeze, nature like a floating cloud.
And then there is the question of life and death, demons and Buddhas,
All the stars gather in the North, the water flows East.

-Thus, form and emptiness are also the same mind-essence, like waves and water. Therefore, the phrase “seeking the words ‘form and emptiness'” means understanding the “true nature and reality” of oneself. The Master once taught: “Seek emptiness to have” (People’s Verse, Vol. 2) and: “Form and emptiness, emptiness and form, do not be separated” (Awakening the Mortal World).

Chú Giải Sám Giảng (1975)