Just thinking, “all is empty,” without a system of proof based on sound reasons arrived at through valid reasoning is not emptiness. That is just belief about emptiness. In this particular context, entertaining a supposition about emptiness and holding a belief about it come down to more or less the same. Just to think, “all phenomena are empty,” is pure supposition; it is turning emptiness into a belief. For emptiness to be more for a given individual than just another system of beliefs, the first two characteristics of complete practice, namely, listening and reflection, are required. In the context of listening and reflecting, the way emptiness is defined necessarily derives from a process of logical thinking built up on valid reasons. Without that, what you think is emptiness is your own supposition.

Khenpo Tsultrim Rinpoche

Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, Mahamudra Vipashyana, Karme Choling, Summer 1993, P. 119

translated by Jim Scott


source: http://www.ktgrinpoche.org/quote/turning-emptiness-belief


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