Shunyatashunyata, Śūnyatāśūnyatā, Shunyata-shunyata: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Shunyatashunyata means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

The Sanskrit term Śūnyatāśūnyatā can be transliterated into English as Sunyatasunyata or Shunyatashunyata, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Shunyatashunyata in Mahayana glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Śūnyatāśūnyatā (शून्यताशून्यता) or simply Śūnyatā refers to the “emptiness of emptiness”, representing one of the sixteen or eighteen emptinesses (śūnyatā), according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XLVIII. Accordingly, “what is the emptiness of emptiness (śūnyatāśūnyatā)? This emptiness of dharmas is empty of emptiness [itself] because it is neither eternal nor transitory. Why? Because such is its essence. That is called: emptiness of emptiness (śūnyatā-śūnyatā)”.

Emptiness of emptinesses (śūnyatāśūnyatā).—By means of this fourth emptiness, the emptiness of inner dharmas (adhyātma-śūnyatā), the emptiness of outer dharmas (bahirdhā-śūnyatā) and the emptiness of both inner and outer dharmas (adhyātmabahirdhā-śunyatā) is eliminated. Since this fourth emptiness destroys the first three emptinesses, it is called the emptiness of emptinesses (śūnyatā-śūnyatā). First, one uses the three emptinesses of dharmas to destroy inner and outer dharmas, and then one uses this [fourth] emptiness to destroy the first three emptinesses. This fourth emptiness is called the emptiness of emptinesses (śūnyatāśūnyatā).

Mahayana book cover
context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

Discover the meaning of shunyatashunyata or sunyatasunyata in the context of Mahayana from relevant books on Exotic India

General definition (in Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Shunyatashunyata in Buddhism glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

Śūnyatāśūnyatā (शून्यताशून्यता) or simply Śūnyatā refers to “emptiness of emptiness” one of the “twenty emptinesses” (śūnyatā) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 41). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., śūnyatā-śūnyatā). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

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