Life is impermanent and it is interdependent

Buddhists say that ‘the nature of all things is emptiness’. Now a lot of people say ‘that’s very negative; it’s saying life is nothing.’ That’s a complete mis-interpretation. As the Dalai Lama says, ‘Emptiness is not nothing-ness.’ What is emptiness? Emptiness is the insight – an insight is an experienced truth, it is not just an idea like ‘God is good’ or ‘God is love’, this is an experience, this is a spiritual experience — this is the insight experience that life is impermanent and it is interdependent. In other words, ‘I do not exist alone.’ Physically, psychologically, emotionally, in every possible way my being is interwoven with a great web of being – other people, the natural cycle of life, everything. So, that’s one insight: it’s impermanent.

Grace at Work by Laurence Freeman OSB