09-08-2010, 12:00 AM
The social sphere is all about making things appear fixed and permanent and then responding to that appearance as if it were real. This is how emptiness in phenomena is forgotten--the preoccupation with things that matter only because perception deems they matter. If one were to make experiencing emptiness matter then that would become the experience.
Monks certainly have an advantage in that they can surround themselves in an environment that is conducive to their aims. That is, be around others who's prime goal is experiencing directly emptiness rather than social engagement. Social considerations are tempting, they offer a false promise of gain in some way. Emptiness offers no gain so is not alluring in the same way.
But, even if monks do have an advantage, anyone who wants to experience emptiness directly just needs to withdraw attention from the perceived social sphere.
Monks certainly have an advantage in that they can surround themselves in an environment that is conducive to their aims. That is, be around others who's prime goal is experiencing directly emptiness rather than social engagement. Social considerations are tempting, they offer a false promise of gain in some way. Emptiness offers no gain so is not alluring in the same way.
But, even if monks do have an advantage, anyone who wants to experience emptiness directly just needs to withdraw attention from the perceived social sphere.