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F ORUM FORUM | E AS TERN HORIZ ON 5
NEWS | EASTERN HORIZON 599

imagining the people involved, raw materials needed, Instead, we must recognize that although we are all
the necessary machinery or processing, transportation, products of causes and conditions, our present actions
packaging and selling that made the item available contribute to future outcomes. Before achieving
to us. This will contradict the initial appearance of a desired result, other supporting or obstructing
independence. conditions may arise. Nevertheless, we should do our
best according to our abilities, interests, and resources.
Perform a similar analysis— either on the cushion If the outcome aligns with our expectations, we should
or while walking around, once familiar with it—by rejoice; if not, we should cultivate equanimity.
mentally separating an object into its various parts,
noticing how none of the individual functioning Min Wei: In Mahāyāna Buddhism, practitioners may
components is the whole, yet based on them an object encounter pitfalls when balancing the realization
comes into existence. of emptiness with the cultivation of compassion.
One common misunderstanding is nihilism, where
Finally, become aware of there being a ‘basis of emptiness is misinterpreted as meaning nothing exists,

designation’ and ‘a designation or label’ for each object leading to apathy or neglect of compassionate action.
we encounter. For example, the basis of designation of Conversely, some may focus solely on compassion
a laptop includes the metal case, keyboard, track pad, without understanding emptiness, resulting in
camera, speakers and electronic chips, to name a few. attachment to a fixed sense of self or others, which can
None of these by themselves is the computer, yet on this lead to burnout or self-righteousness. Another pitfall
basis of many ‘non-computer’ parts, we conceive of and is intellectualizing emptiness, where the profound
label ‘computer.’ There must be a valid basis, meaning a insight becomes a mere concept, disconnected from
conventional agreement to call such things ‘a computer,’ heartfelt compassion. Additionally, practitioners might
and it must function as a computer. We mentally label struggle with imbalance, overemphasizing one aspect
it ‘computer’ and then a computer appears to us. Such at the expense of the other. To avoid these pitfalls,
analyses can really shake our adherence to appearances practitioners must cultivate wisdom and compassion
of inherent existence. together, ensuring their practice is balanced, engaged,
and free from extremes of detachment or emotional
5. What are the potential pitfalls or exhaustion.
misunderstanding Dharma practitioners might
encounter when trying to balance the realization Tsepal: We need a degree of wisdom so that our
of emptiness with the cultivation of compassion? compassion does not cause us to become a doormat, a
people-pleaser, a “fixer” or a martyr. Real compassion
Aggacitta: A deep realization of emptiness can sometimes is not pity, and does not succumb to personal distress.
lead to feelings of helplessness and apathy, especially if One pitfall of focusing on emptiness at the expense
one becomes overwhelmed by the understanding that no of compassion is that we may give up our bodhicitta
one is truly in control—that we are all shaped by present motivation because enlightenment just seems too hard
causes and past conditioning. Without proper guidance to accomplish. Or one may err to the side of nihilism,
and the right view, one might sink into depression or thinking that since things lack inherent existence, they
adopt a detached and indifferent attitude. don’t exist at all, negating the law of cause and effect, as
well as the existence of sentient beings who suffer and
While recognizing karma, one might feel powerless and need our compassion.
resign to inaction, believing that all beings are merely
experiencing the results of their own karma. While 6. How does the realization of emptiness reshape
equanimity (upekkhā) is one of the four brahmavihāras, our understanding of karma, and in what
it should not be a default response. ways does this influence the compassionate
motivation behind our actions?