Seeds from the Void

During a dharma talk, the Master looked out at the crowded assembly of practitioners, lost in thought. Though the lights were bright, his face bore a contemplative expression entirely different from his usual demeanor when lecturing on ethics or ordinary cause and effect. Today's topic was "The Dharma of Being and Non-being of the Bodhisattva"—a subject he had warned about from the start: "This teaching is a bit advanced. Try your best, try to listen."

He began with a simple, relatable definition. "Being" refers to what can be counted, what has mass, quality, and function. "Non-being," on the other hand, is the opposite. But then, he immediately turned it around: "In this universe, there is never anything that is absolutely non-existent."

To clarify, he offered a very practical example regarding human presence. Imagine a crowded ceremony where someone quietly sits in a far corner. If that person is a high-ranking official, a famous artist, or someone who has performed much merit for others, their appearance would cause a stir and excitement. "Oh, we would rush over to welcome them, eagerly pulling their hand," he said, his voice enthusiastic. "Because that person exists in our hearts, in the hearts of the assembly. Their presence has meaning for us."

Conversely, there are those who stand before us without us even knowing, whom we might even find bothersome and wish to send away. "Move, move, move aside, you're in the way, move over," the Master said quickly, mimicking the tone of someone feeling annoyed. "Why is that? Because that person's presence holds no meaning for us... Sometimes they even cause trouble, say inappropriate things, or hurt others, thus losing the connection with people."

A practitioner raised their hand, speaking confidently: "So are we here because we have blessings?" The whole room murmured, and there was some applause. The Master smiled: "So, you mean our presence makes everyone very happy, right?" Then he grew thoughtful again, his words slowing: "But within our own family, relatives, or a small group of friends, we have significance. Yet with the larger public, we sometimes sink into obscurity. Because our blessings are not yet sufficient."

The teaching delved deeper into philosophical categories: being then non-being, non-being then being, being then being, non-being then non-being. He explained the law of impermanence (anicca)—what has being will become non-being, like wealth, love, and even life itself. Then he taught about "non-being becoming being"—how a person transforms from poor to rich through effort and merit-making, how grass grows spontaneously from barren land, how life appears in a puddle of water on a rooftop.

But the true climax began when he turned his gaze to the vastness of the universe, his voice rising and falling like a myth being told: "Where did the universe begin? Scientists say it started with an explosion—a big bang created the universe. There's nothing more laughable than that theory... Truly, there is nothing that is absolutely non-existent."

He explained that regions of the universe seeming like void and emptiness are actually filled with invisible energy fields—gravitational fields, electromagnetic fields, and most importantly, "the field of karma and karmic consequences." When these fields collide and "twist together," they create the first fundamental particles—protons and electrons. From there, the first hydrogen atom emerged in the silence of the universe.

A curious practitioner asked: "Then where did humans come from?" The Master replied seriously: "If we follow Darwin, we say we came from apes... But actually, the theory that humans evolved from apes to this day remains just an unproven theory. It is still only a hypothesis of belief." He emphasized that science cannot solve all mysteries, and demanding "scientific proof" for everything is a form of "scientistic superstition."

The talk concluded with a deeply philosophical image: it is precisely the serenity, the "void" of the inner mind, that is the true source of wisdom. "Keeping the mind void is the beginning of wisdom and memory," he said, his voice gentle yet profound. "The more serene and empty the mind becomes, the greater the wisdom grows."

The dharma talk ended in silence, but the teachings on "non-being" full of energy, on "being" arising unexpectedly from the void, remained—like seeds quietly sprouting in the minds of the listeners.

Meaning of the Story

The story conveys a profound lesson on the true nature of "Being" and "Non-being" in the universe and in human consciousness. "Non-being" is not an absolute emptiness but a state of infinite potential, containing all energy, all possibilities—from which "Being" can arise. The lesson reminds us: the serenity and purity of the mind (the void mind) is the foundation from which wisdom and compassion arise. Simultaneously, it shows that all phenomena depend on conditions and causes; nothing exists permanently or absolutely. Understanding the "Dharma of Being and Non-being" helps us let go of attachments and live with greater mindfulness and compassion.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang