Open Door to Emptiness (Book)

One of the most important concepts in Mahayana Buddhism is the concept of Emptiness. We have experiences that do appear to us, but when they are examined closely in four careful analyses of the Middle-way (Madhyamaka), we find they have no substantiality or inherent reality. Briefly, this has led the Buddha and many highly realized masters to say that our reality is like a mirage, a dream, a drop of dew or mental construction

Understanding emptiness is important because if we don't fully comprehend the insubstantiality of phenomena, we cannot really reduce our attachment to this world and all our disturbing emotions such as pride, passiveness, anger and so on. Without understanding what emptiness is, we cannot develop true, universal compassion for all sentient beings.

In this book, Thrangu Rinpoche gives a careful evaluation of the four great analyses of Mipham Rinpoche found in his Gateway to Knowledge and describes emptiness in a simple, direct, and practical manner. Rinpoche many taught high lamas, ordinary monks, Western and Eastern lay practitioners for over 50 years in his centers in North America, Europe, India, Nepal, and Asia. For this edition we have also included a translation of the source (root) text by Mipham.

“The teachings of Thrangu Rinpoche, the supreme lord of refuge and great abbot, are not to be taken not as mere commentary upon the words or an explanation of their meaning, but rather as actual blessings and instructions drawn from his experience ornamented by love, compassion, and realization.––Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche

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