we can only hold with empty hands

It is interesting, I think, to consider the depth at which the idea of interconnectivity goes. Now, one could find small superficial examples, of course - such as, I have shoes because someone made them - but it is the subtle levels that I think I enjoy considering most.

The idea that light and darkness are connected is something I consider regularly as I meditate; I should explain:

There can be no darkness without without light and there can be no light without darkness; the fuel each other. If there were no light, there would be only darkness, and as such we would have no need to call it "darkness" it would just be. In turn, if there were no darkness, we would have no need to call anything "light" because to say something is "light" implies that something else could be "dark" - light would just be as well.

This is my favorite concept of emptiness as well. "Light" must be let go of in order to understand this. We cannot conceive of such a thing as "light" if "darkness" does not exist. So, if we forget about "darkness" and we see light as simply there, and not as "light", then we can perhaps get a glimpse in true emptiness, and maybe even an understanding of what is meant by, "only empty hands can hold" - how are they connected? You tell me.

Dependent Origination

The idea of dependent origination is something I love. Knowing that all things are dependent on a set of circumstances preceding it is a wonderful way of looking at the world.

Many people, however, reject the idea of dependent origination even though, each one of us is a shining example of it. If it were not for a specific set of circumstances, none of us would be here. If our parents hadn't been born, fell in love, had sex, we could not exist, thus we are all originated dependent upon other actions. We simply cannot exist of our own accord.

When we walk around in our day to day lives, we see a tree, a flower, a cup, and our mind tells us that these things exist of their own accord. It simply is not the case. The tree cannot exist with out seed, which cannot, germinate without water, so the tree is entirely dependent on rain.

This concept of dependent origination, is another way of saying interdependence and leads to, hopefully, some form of understanding of the concept of emptiness as well as the the true nature of the world.