top of page
​New

Form is Emptiness, and Emptiness is Form

If you try to understand this part of the Heart Sutra, “form is emptiness, and emptiness is form,” you might feel like you kind of get it, but kind of don’t. Or you may find it difficult to understand at all. This happens when one doesn’t yet know the reality of the way things are in actual fact.


Let’s take a look at the actual fact of the way things are. Please try this. Turn your face to the right, and then slowly turn to the left, and confirm how things are. Turn right, and the fact of the way it is, is the way it is on the right. Turn left slightly, and the fact of the way it is, is the way it is there, slightly to the left. It’s clear that it is the way it is now, and the way it was immediately before now is gone. This is the real meaning of “form is emptiness, and emptiness is form.”


Nothing is fixed or is of substance, so the way it is in the direction one is facing is the way one actually is. All there is, is the way it is in the direction being faced, without any self. There is only the way it is in the direction being faced.


The Heart Sutra is about our true nature as humans. What is written in the Heart Sutra is not something to aspire to become. We are already human just the way the Heart Sutra says.


To understand what this explanation is pointing to and to realize this truth for yourself, we encourage you to attend our zazenkai. Receiving live instruction makes a big difference, and we can instruct you in what real zazen is.


By Kenichi Matsumoto

Translated by Madoka


The original Japanese is below the video.


色即是空空即是色


般若心経にある「色即是空空即是色」を理解しようとすると、わかったようなわからいような、または、難しく思うかも知れません。

このように思う理由は、事実実相がどのようになっているかを知らないからです。


事実実相が、どのようになっているかを実際に調べてみましょう。実際に、顔を右に向け、少しづつ左に向けていくと、どのようになっているかを確かめてみましょう。右を向くと向いた所の様子になります。少し左を向くと少し左に向いた所の様子になります。また少し左を向くと少し左に向いた所の様子になります。つまり、今向いている前にあった様子は消え、必ず向いている所にある様子のみになります。これが、色即是空空即是色の真意です。実体が無いので必ず今向いているところの様子なってしまうという事です。そして、向いている所にある様子のみという事の真意は、「私」無く向いている所にある様子のみという事です。


般若心経は人間の事実実相=真相について書かれています。これから般若心経に書かれているような人になるのではなく、既に、般若心経に書かれているとおりの人間です。


「色即是空空即是色」の真相を自覚したい方は、ぜひZen Onlineにお越しください。正しい坐禅をお伝えしています。もちろん質問もできます。



Comments


Archive
Category
Tag
News

_________________________

​​

(All dates and times are Japan time. We find this time converter site easy to use.)

  • NEW explanations about Zen, zazen, delusion and satori in "All about Zen."

  • Zazenkai with Matsumoto-san:   

  September 29  (Sun) 18:00-22:00

        October 6 (Sun) 18:00-22:00

        October 28 (Mon) 9:00am-13:00

        Nov 10 (Sun) 18:00-22:00

        Nov 25 (Mon)  9:00am-13:00

        Dec 8 (Sun) 18:00-22:00

        Dec 16 (Mon) 9:00-13:00

       Click here for reservations

  • Weekly sitting (1 hour) with Madoka on Wednesday nights, 21:00-22:00. Reservations can be made here 

  • Please reserve early. Reservations close 24 hours prior to the start of zazenkai.

  • Reservations for online zazenkai twice a month and private sessions. Feel free to contact us with questions too.

    Video Introducing Zen

  • Click here for an introduction to Zen video. Matsumoto-san spoke upon invitation by Astanga Yoga Mandir.  Matsumoto-san's lecture begins at 15:43. Thank you, AYM, for this opportunity!

_________________________

_________________________

Requests

  • ​Please do not use, reproduce, modify, and/or divert any content of this website.

  • Please understand that it may take a few days to respond to your inquiries, requests or comments. 

  • ​Please be timely in making reservations or cancellations.

bottom of page