“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough,” –Albert Einstein
“The nature of our mind is “great bliss” and full of awakened qualities, this is like a very “positive” view of emptiness.”
Two views of emptiness “in a nutshell”
Recently I created two new reels (see below) on the two views of emptiness in Himalayan and Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, referred to as “Empty-of-Self” (Rang-tong) and “Empty-of-Other” (Zhen-tong).
As those who read my work, I have studied and written about this topic extensively in my postgraduate thesis/book on Tāranātha’s Commentary on the Heart Sutra (awarded top marks by eminent Hamburg scholar, Prof. Dorji Wangchug, and foreword provided by Prof. Matthew Kapstein). Tāranātha states in his commentary that even the Heart Sutra (typically viewed as Mahayana and Prajnaparamita teaching, also teaches the ultimate view of the Great Empty-of-Other. After my translation and analysis of it, I agree with him too.
In May 2023, I also gave a twenty minute Dharma talk on the topic of the two views of emptiness, at the invitation of Tricycle Buddhist Review, see here and short clip published by Tricycle here.
This is my video attempt for a general audience to explain “in a nutshell” the essential differences between the two views. The main difference is in what the view negates and what it affirms. In the spirit of Albert Einstein who said: “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough,”.
The Empty-of-Self view negates all conditioned phenomena and beings, identities or appearances as empty/lacking any inherent existence, or permanence or independence/singularity. It is clinging to these things as inherently existing that causes us suffering and clinging and the negative mind states like aversion, lust, greed, jealousy and so on.
Whereas, the Empty-of-Other view negates/is empty of all “that other stuff” (the above that was negated in the Empty-of-Self view) from the naturally arising (rang-jung), innate (lhen-kye), Buddha Nature qualities (tathagatagarbha), of the fundamental nature of reality/mind. This view is important to remember and realise, otherwise there is a danger one will have a wrong view of emptiness as a total negation or voidness. Also, we need to remember the Buddha/awakened qualities so that we do not fall into some kind of nihilistic depression, as these beautiful and beneficial qualities are available at all times in the depths of our hearts/minds.
- Empty-of-Self view (Rang-tong)
2. Empty-of-Other view (Zhen-tong)
For those who like more detailed analysis, please read the extensive Introduction to that book/thesis here on the Academia website. For other original articles, research and translation on Buddhist philosophy, see here. For other “in a nutshell” reels: https://dakinitranslations.com/buddhism-in-a-nutshell-reels/
Music? Heart Sutra mantra, It’s Just an Illusion for the Empty-of-Self view, You are the Sunshine of my Life by Stevie Wonder, and Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles.
May it be of benefit and help us all to realise both views and thus never feel discouraged, depressed, alone, or hopeless, the awakened Buddha nature is in the very essence of our minds/hearts and something we can always return “home” to within.
Adele Tomlin, 28th April 2026.