Join us in this third installment of Asian Classics Institute’s transformative three-part series, “Crafting a Purposeful Life,” inspired by the timeless wisdom in A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life (Bodhisattvacharya vatara) by Master Shantideva (~700 CE). Delve into these profound teachings through the commentary Entry Point for Children of the Victorious Buddhas by Gyaltsab Je (1364-1432).

Master Shantideva's masterpiece serves as a comprehensive guide to living as a bodhisattva in the modern world. This third and final course highlights a study of the Perfection of Wisdom, a vast discussion on emptiness. We will plumb the depths of the purpose and benefits of realizing emptiness, and what we need to do in order to perceive emptiness directly. We will also explore all the wrong ideas about emptiness, the true meaning of the illusion, and our misperceptions of where things come from.

To begin with Part III explores the concept of emptiness, emphasizing its critical role in eliminating negative emotions and achieving nirvana. We will discuss the “view of destruction” and how understanding emptiness can lead to the cessation of suffering. We will examine the importance of realizing that all things lack inherent existence, which helps practitioners like us dismantle the false notions that fuel our mental afflictions. Furthermore, the course provides insights into the two truths—deceptive and ultimate truths—and explains their interdependence, aiming to deepen our comprehension of reality from the Middle-Way perspective.