Goode Greg - Emptiness and Joyful Freedom

A BOUT THE A UTHORS

G REG G OODE is a long-time student of Advaita-Vedanta, Buddhism and the Direct Path. He is the author of many articles on these topics, as well as the books entitled Nondualism in Western Philosophy, Standing As Awareness, and The Direct Path: A User Guide. Greg holds a doctorate in philosophy, and serves on the editorial board of the peer-reviewed journal Practical Philosophy: Journal of the American Practical Philosophers Association.

T OMAS S ANDER is a spiritual practitioner and teacher in New York. He has studied in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and his approach is also influenced by the insights of positive psychology. Tomas grew up in Germany, holds a doctorate in mathematics and works as a research scientist at a computer company. He has published articles in the areas of mathematics, computer science and positive psychology.

Praise for Emptiness and Joyful Freedom T HE B UDDHA TAUGHT THAT ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO GAIN ANY SUSTAINABLE experience of liberation without a full realization of sunyata or emptiness. On the one hand, sunyata is a very profound dimension of realitythe key to the supremely joyful state of complete freedom. Yet on the other, it is simply the uncontrived way things are, free from labels and reification. It is part of the natural state of everything. In Emptiness and Joyful Freedom , Sander and Goode explore the living spirit and liberating potential of these teachings with an eye to making them accessible and relevant to modern readers. This new book may contribute to a growing interest in the study, practice, and direct experience of this crucial principle.Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, author of Rebel Buddha: A Guide to a Revolution of Mind T RANSLATING THE WRITINGS OF N AGARJUNA, THE FAMOUS Mahayana Buddhist philosopher, into a modern idiom is no small task; but that is exactly what Goode and Sander have set out to do. The result is at once both intelligent and thoroughly accessible. This is a wise and compassionate book, a good read for anyone interested in exploring the profound teachings on Emptiness.C.W. Huntington, author of The Emptiness of Emptiness T HIS IS AN AWESOME AND LONG-OVERDUE BOOK. A LMOST ALL classical Indian and Tibetan works on emptiness and Madhyamaka were born from debates among Buddhists and their non-Buddhist philosophical opponents between 1800 and 1200 years ago, and they have been transmitted in unchanged form since that time. While the human mind essentially still functions in the same way, there is a definite need for an update in terms of how emptiness relates to the philosophical ideas developed in the West and how it applies to the thinking and problems of contemporary people in a practical way. This book is a groundbreaking effort in that regard: It not only transplants the Buddhist teachings on emptiness into more approachable Western terminologies and concepts but also provides a toolbox of very practical and helpful contemplations that can be applied by everybody at any time. Unlike many classical Buddhist texts on emptiness, this book actually does address the questions and issues that we Westerners have and care about. Maybe most important of all, the authors make it clear throughout that insight into emptiness is not some dry and completely removed state of indifference, a kind of dull nihilism, or sheer cynicism. Rather, they point out, a living experience of emptiness is intrinsically embedded in the warmth of great compassion and the playfulness of a joyous mind.Karl Brunnhlzl, author of The Center Of The Sunlit Sky: Madhyamaka In The Kagy Tradition, and The Heart Attack Sutra: A New Commentary On The Heart Sutra T HIS BOOK IS NOT LIKE THE OTHER NON-DUAL BOOKS ON THE SHELVES. Not even close. I worked with Greg for a number of years on emptiness. It was a very enriching and transformative period for me. If you soak in the book from all the angles that Greg and Tomas explore, you cant help but be transformed completely by it you may never look at awareness or emptiness teachings the same way. And thats great news. This style of looking unearthed hidden dogmas, unexamined beliefs in objectivity, and certain essentialist views that were buried in the way I spoke about nonduality. This approach showed me that there is more than one way to speak of nonduality. And today, I choose this way, simply because it is more fun.Scott Kiloby, author of Living Realization and Loves Quiet Revolution.

Also by Greg Goode

Standing as Awareness

The Direct Path: A User Guide

EMPTINESS AND JOYFUL FREEDOM

First English edition published August 2013 by N ON -D UALITY P RESS

Greg Goode and Tomas Sander 2013

Non-Duality Press 2013

www.emptiness.co

www.non-dualitypress.org

Back cover photos of Tomas Sander and Greg Goode by Robert M. Ford

Greg Goode and Tomas Sander have asserted their rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as authors of this work.
All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in writing from the Publisher.

eISBN: 978-1-908664-36-5

N ON -D UALITY P RESS | PO Box 2228 | Salisbury | SP2 2GZ United Kingdom

Disclaimer : This book is for educational purposes only and is not intended in any way to be a replacement or a substitute for qualified medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, or as a replacement or substitute for psychological advice, diagnosis or treatment, or therapy from a fully qualified and licensed person. If you think you are suffering from a medical or psychological condition, consult your doctor or other appropriately qualified professional person or service immediately. The authors and publisher of this book are not responsible or liable for any action made by a user based on the content of this book. We are not liable for the contents of any external books or websites mentioned or listed, or for any actions made by a user based on the contents of these books or websites, nor do we necessarily endorse any product or service mentioned or advised on any of these books or websites. Any data or information is provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended for any other commercial or non-commercial purposes. We will not be liable for any errors of omission or commission in the content of this book, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. By reading and using this book, you agree not to redistribute the material found therein, unless appropriate rights have been granted. We shall not be liable for any damages or costs of any type arising out of or in any way connected with your reading or use of this book. By reading and using this book, you fully agree to these terms.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

One remarkable thing about the emptiness teachings, in the broad sense in which we interpret them, is their sheer variety. So it is not only a great pleasure but also quite fitting to acknowledge a large variety of people who have helped this project in many ways.

Tomas would like to acknowledge the kindness and wisdom of his Buddhist teachers Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsltrim Gyamtso Rinpoche who opened his world to these liberating teachings. Greg would like to acknowledge his dharma preceptor Ven. Wen Zhu, as well as the heart-opening teachings of Ven. Yin Shun and Ven. Chin Kung.

We would also like to thank Rosemary Bakker, Carlos Ferreyros, Andrew Libby and David Turnbull, the directors of the Nalandabodhi dharma center in New York, for so kindly hosting a series of our classes on the Madhyamika and Western approaches to the emptiness teachings. In fact, this book and many of its meditations began in classes held at Nalandabodhi.

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