The Firstborn

'sunyata (The Wisdom of Emptiness)

The Firstborn


You who seek,
Reach for the Perfection of Wisdom.
Emptiness is itself empty,
Yet actions are fruitious.

You who seek,
Accept the non-self, tolerantly.
Firmly convinced of emptiness,
Yet compassionate towards all beings.

Bodhisattva,
Between permanence
And impermanence.
Bodhisattva,
Between self
And non-self.

Such is the way of Śūnyatā:
Emptiness is itself empty.

Empty.
In the past. In the present. In the future.
Empty.

Bodhisattva,
Between wisdom
And compassion.
Bodhisattva,
Between existence
And non-existence.

Such is the way of Śūnyatā:
Emptiness is not nothingness.

You who seek,
Fear not the void.
For emptiness is itself empty,
And pure.