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prevents emptiness from leading to nihilism. Realizing At this stage, any of the four brahmavihāras—
the interdependent nature of all beings, a practitioner loving-kindness, compassion, empathetic joy, and
develops profound care for their suffering, embodying equanimity—can spontaneously arise depending on the
the bodhisattva ideal—seeking enlightenment not situation. Additionally, frequent personal realization of
just for oneself but for all. Thus, wisdom without causality nurtures wisdom and discernment, guiding
compassion is incomplete, and compassion without when and how to express the appropriate brahmavihāra
wisdom may lead to attachment. Their unity cultivates in speech or action.
a liberated mind, free from clinging yet deeply engaged
in alleviating suffering. Therefore, emptiness and Min Wei: In Mahāyāna Buddhism, several practices
compassion are two wings of awakening, each essential and teachings help integrate the insights of emptiness
for liberation. with the cultivation of compassion in daily life. One
key practice is giving and taking, where practitioners
Tsepal: As Geshe Jampa Tegchok says in his book, Insight visualize taking in the suffering of others and sending

Into Emptiness, “The main purpose for understanding them happiness, fostering empathy and dissolving self-
emptiness is to understand how we are born in cyclic clinging. Meditating on bodhicitta, the aspiration for
existence and how we are able to leave cyclic existence enlightenment to benefit all beings, aligns the mind with
and attain liberation and enlightenment.” Just as we are compassion and wisdom. The Six Perfections, especially
caught in cyclic existence due to self-grasping ignorance, generosity, ethical conduct, and patience, provide
afflictions and karma, the same is true of every living practical ways to embody compassion while recognizing
being. Freeing ourselves and others from the duhkha of the emptiness of self and phenomena. Reflecting on
cyclic existence requires countering that fundamental dependent origination deepens the understanding of
ignorance by realizing emptiness. interconnectedness, naturally nurturing compassion.
Additionally, mindfulness and loving-kindness
Compassion and wisdom are like two wings of a bird; meditations help practitioners remain present and
both are necessary for developing awakening. Since open-hearted, integrating emptiness and compassion
duhkha [dissatisfaction and suffering] is empty of into every action, thought, and interaction, transforming
inherent existence and caused by karma and afflictions, daily life into a path of awakening.
a thorough understanding of emptiness can gradually
eliminate it. Similarly, a mind understanding the Tsepal: One practice that incorporates compassion and
emptiness of all sentient beings naturally supports the wisdom is to reflect on the infinite kindness of others.
impartial compassion that wishes to protect all beings Becoming more aware of how everything we have,
from duhkha. everything we know and everything we are able to do
has come about due to the kindness of countless others
4. Can you share some practices or teachings that opens our mind to our interdependence. Others may not
help practitioners integrate the insights of produce things specifically with us in mind, but without
emptiness with the cultivation of compassion in their work that benefits us and others, we wouldn’t have
daily life? food to eat, houses to live in, clothes to wear, medicine,

education, electricity, internet access, and so forth.
Aggacitta: Genuine compassion arises when we deeply
understand how our reactions to sensory experiences The Buddha taught the reasoning of dependent arising,
are shaped by both present circumstances (causes) and which contradicts the independent way they appear.
past experiences and information (conditions). The Begin by noticing how solid or independent a person,
more consistently this understanding informs our daily object, or situation appears, and then challenge that
life, the more profoundly it transforms our mindset and appearance with analysis. For example, reflect on the
worldview. causes and conditions bringing any object into being,