This is the final installment in the series on the 6 Paramitas.  We double up on this podcast and talk about both Meditation and Prajna.  We talk about meditation so much that I decided to just do a quick review of how it relates as a paramita and then hit Wisdom (Prajna). 

Prajna is the Paramita that guides us in relation to all the others.  It's said to be like the Emperor where the other 5 paramitas are like Generals.  The Emperor must give direction or the Generals can't accomplish the ultimate goal.

This week, we're deep in the middle of emptiness again! 

This week we reinforce the idea that nothing has intrinsic existence by examining how all things are interrelated.  Then we examine exactly how we end up with this mistaken idea that things are independent by seeing how our minds override what is with it's own concepts.  Finally, we take a look at  the difference between understanding emptiness and realizing emptiness.

Please stop by the blog enlighten-up.org.

Feel free to contact me at lans(at)enlighten-up.org

In this episode, we dive deep into the Buddhist concepts of Emptiness.  We look at misinterpretations of the term 'emptiness' in a Buddhist context and how this effects practitioners understandings of reality.  We begin to focus on two of the main points of the Heart Sutra, "Form is Emptiness.  Emptiness also is Form." and two extreme points of view.

1. Everything is exactly as we see it.
2. Everything is simply in our minds and doesn't really exist
   

There are some great books out on the subject of Emptiness and the Heart Sutra, but my favorite has to be:

The Essence Of The Heart Sutra - The Dali Lama's Heart Of Wisdom Teachings

This is a really great book and is one of the easiest for Westerners to understand.  (It's still not simple, but easier than most).

Please stop by the blog enlighten-up.org.

Feel free to contact me at lans(at)enlighten-up.org

This is the first in a series of podcasts dealing with the concept of Emptiness as it relates to Buddhism.  In this show, we discuss the history of teaching in Buddhism by talking about The Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma that were taught by the Buddha. 

We also discuss the elements of a Buddhist teaching, both what is required and how one should view it. 

We also briefly touch on The Heart Sutra which will be much of the basis of this series.