Abiding in Emptiness: A Guide for Meditative Practice

by Bhikkhu Anālayo

An incisive look into the early Buddhist teachings on emptiness, and a manual for bringing those teachings into our everyday lives.

Before the growth of the Mahayana and the Perfection of Wisdom, before Avalokitesvara taught Sariputra the meaning of emptiness, the Buddha gave his own teachings, to his attendant Ananda, on the importance of emptiness (Pali sunnata , Sanskrit sunyata ) in everyday practice. In this volume, renowned scholar-monk Bhikkhu Analayo explores these teachings and shows us how to integrate them into our lives.

In this practical companion to his scholarly work The Signless and the On the Realization of Nirvana , Bhikkhu Analayo draws from instructions found in the Greater and the Smaller Discourses on Emptiness (the Mahasunnatasutta and the Culasunnatasutta ). In each chapter, he provides a translation of a pertinent excerpt from the discourses, follows this with clear and precise explanations of the text, and concludes by offering instructions for practice.

Step by step, beginning with daily life and concluding with Nirvana, Bhikkhu Analayo unpacks the Buddha’s teachings on this foundational concept.

Genres: Buddhism

200 pages, Hardcover

Published March 12, 2024

Reviews

[Jessica Zu · Rating 5 out of 5]

accurate and pragmatic institutions

for those who are ready to go deeper than mcmindfulness. not for the faint-hearted, not for nightstand buddhists, not for buddhish people. only for those ready to renunciate

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abiding in Emptiness is a scholarly work, like most of Bhikkhu Anālayo’s writing, but it also has a very workable progression of meditative practices. Each chapter ends with a succinct summary followed by practical instructions related to the subject of the chapter. The chapters build on one another starting with daily life and moving on to seclusion, perception of earth, infinite space, infinite consciousness, emptiness of self, signlessness and finally nirvana, something attainable, perhaps, when the time is right. The following quote from the book captures the intent of this work:

The personal transformation that results from the eradication of defilements is the true measuring rod for successful contemplation of emptiness. The whole practice described in this book is not about creating extraordinary meditative experiences, although these are indeed part of the path of practice, but about opening the heart and releasing it from the grip of defilements so that it can flower into the beauty of the divine abodes in any daily-life situation.

Very true. As worthwhile as nirvana is as a goal, suffering less by not being as much of a slave to the hindrances is its own worthwhile goal. On a cautionary note, emptiness practice can be emotionally difficult without a firm grounding in meditative practices in general, and without the support of a sangha, partner or mentor to help keep you in balance.

[Jim S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, simply, one of the best books on Buddhism, especially emptiness, I’ve ever read.

The academics are incredibly solid. The practice notes are clear and straightforward. The descriptions of signlessness and nirvana are some of the best I’ve ever read.

Real authentic Buddhist practice, through a modern academic lens, made practical for the average practitioner.

[Zhi Yi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such profound teachings, I really enjoyed reading it. Not sure if I have understood all of it, probably need to read a few times to fully internalise the teaching.

[Jon Højlund Arnfred · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will likely be a gem for many advanced practitioners. It provides a practical guide for the theoretical foundations as layed out in another of Anālayo's recent books The Signless and the Deathless: On the Realization of Nirvana. In that other theoretical work Anālayo goes to great length in explaining that Nirvana is the "stepping out of the construction of experience". This stepping out is of course from the inside of the event itself not describable, as there is nothing to describe. However, the gradual path towards it is describable, though language of course will always be a truncated representation of experience itself, but it is that task which Anālayo again has taken up in this guide.

The stages outlined here bears close resemblance to the immaterial jhanas, but doesn't match up with those directly. The chapters organized around stages of samadhi do form a quite coherent progression though, and makes it abundantly clear that the meditator may not need years of concentration practice before entering deep samadhis.

Especially the last presented stage signlessness / animitta samādhi I think may be useful for practitioners who may still hold on to the very act of reflecting. Even when it's reflecting upon the three characteristics or whatever part of the dharma that the mind still holds on to at that point in time.

However, it's equally important to note that none of these stages are necessary conditions for Nirvana, and that one should not try too hard to "master the dharma". This is also a form of clinging. Also this can be let go of.