Sunyata

Origin

From Sanskrit शून्यता, from शून्य (śūnya, "zero, nothing") + ता (-tā, "generalizing suffix"). Cognate with Pali suññata

Full definition of sunyata

Noun

1. (psychology) Emptiness, in terms of a meditative state; an Eastern concept of a high meditative state of calm and freedom from distraction.
• 1975, Herbert V. Günther, , The Dawn of Tantra, 2001, Shambhala Publications, pages not numbered,Shunyata can be explained in a very simple way. ... In the shunyata experience, the attention is on the field rather than on its contents.#* unknown date, Lotus SutraSunyata is no other than form; form is no other than emptiness. In the same way, feeling, perception, formation, and consciousness are emptiness. not in original quote, added by whom? with what changes?

• all dharmas were reducible to sunyata. So in a sense you have got a sort of merging of the particular in the universal.
• 1996, Steve Odin, The social self in Zen and American pragmatism, In his treatment of Zen Buddhism, Abe emphasizes that the true self of Zen Buddhism is dynamic śūnyatā: "That is to say, true Sunyata is nothing but the true self and the true self is nothing but true Sunyata"
1. (philosophy) The cosmic void; in the East-West dialogue, an Eastern term for metaphysics of nothingness.
• 1993, Sunyata, Emptiness and Self-emptying, Kenosis by Ven. Dr. Rewata Dhamma published in Buddhist - Christian Dialogue London, 27th MarchHowever since emptiness empties itself and so cannot itself be an object of attachment, dynamic sunyata empties itself out as just the things themselves. #* unknown date NagarjunaSunyata or the void is shared by both Samsara and Nirvana.#* unknown date the source and upwelling of all creative possibilities" Sacred Springs and Wells http://kwelos.tripod.com/Water.htmThe concept of 'sunyata' has similarities with that of 'awen' in Celtic spirituality