REFLECTIONS ON A REFLECTION

A boat reflecting in the water. What is real – The boat? The reflection? Both? Neither?

I was recently talking to one of my meditation students about the Buddhist concept of emptiness. We both decided that “spaciousness” is a better translation of shunyata, the Sanskrit word we usually translate as emptiness.

Spaciousness – the boat, the reflection, the water, the sky. I can let it take me anywhere I want. That’s the good news about emptiness or spaciousness – It makes everything possible.

The boat transforms into a magic carpet of rich brocade. I ride it across the sky, seeing suffering and also joy as I float from place to place. There is kindness everywhere. I spread beautiful flowers with brilliant colors and beautiful perfume as I travel, from continent to continent. Love abounds and overcomes suffering.

I then steer my magic carpet back to the boat. It lands gently on the deck. The captain asks me where I want to go. I tell him that I want to go home. He tells me I am already there.