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영어

The concept of emptiness(空) and the phrase “form is emptiness”(色即是空) in Buddhism are widely known in East Asia, especially in Korea, though their original meanings are often misunderstood. Emptiness, along with Confucian moderation and Daoist non-action, is one of the most misunderstood and challenging terms to define. Emptiness(sunyata) in Mahayana Buddhism represents the ultimate reality, transcending all concepts of being and non-being. It is, however, not an absolute world or Buddha-nature but a relative relationship arising from the interplay of the absolute and the relative. The phrase "form is emptiness, emptiness is form" from the Heart Sutra highlights the interdependence of form and emptiness, emphasizing their dynamic and relational nature. Wonhyo, a prominent Korean Buddhist scholar, interpreted emptiness as the lack of inherent, unchanging essence, aligning with the idea that existence is transient and interdependent. Emptiness transforms the understanding of life and death, seeing them as interconnected aspects of a continuous process of transformation. The concepts of emptiness in the Diamond Sutra and the Heart Sutra challenge conventional notions of absolute existence, emphasizing the interdependence and impermanence of all phenomena. Wonhyo's Exposition of the Diamond Samadhi Sutra offers a valuable framework for understanding life and death through the lens of emptiness.