The Wisdom of Emptiness And Its Significance On The Ten Bodhisattva Grounds

This text highlights how the wisdom of emptiness once generated will help us combat the self-grasping ignorance which the Buddha identified as the root of all our miseries. In the process of doing so, the text skillfully shows how the unhealthy journey of our mind since primordial time, was forever being dragged down by the self-grasping ignorance in the façade of nurturing, protecting and supporting us. The wisdom of emptiness is brought to the scene, to unmask the destruction that this self-grasping ignorance has done and is still currently doing to the self under the façade of nurturing and protecting the self.

Ven Panchen Losang Choegyen, the author of the essay, personifies the two agents in human form, like fighting in a court, each making their points to convince the self of the importance and value of their respective services. We, like a child who though initially did not see the value of wisdom, initially take the side of self-grasping ignorance. Gradually through gaining intelligence however, one begins to see the value of the narrations by the wisdom of emptiness that unmasks the vicious actions of self-grasping ignorance which were always presented in the façade of support and help to the self.

The one who understands this text fully will appreciate how profoundly the wisdom of emptiness wins the debate over self-grasping ignorance, which can well be reflected in our day-to-day life. This precious realization can lead to the total freedom from all suffering and the tears of mental agony altogether.

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Geshe Dorji Damdul completed his schooling from Upper TCV, Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh. After seriously contemplating a career as a Physicist during his High School years, in 1988, he instead made the decision to join the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics (IBD), Dharamsala, for formal studies in Buddhist logic, philosophy and epistemology.

After 15 years of intensive study in Buddhist philosophy, Geshe Dorji Damdul gained his Geshe Lharampa Degree (Ph.D.) in 2002 from Drepung Loseling Monastic University, Mundgod, Karnataka.

From 2005 to 2009, Geshe Dorji Damdul was the official English Translator to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. During this time, Geshe Dorji Damdul was also involved in written translations of many texts including Arya Nagarjuna’s Mulamadyamikakarika (Eng. Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way), and Chapter 9 of Acharya Shantideva’s Bodhicaryavatara (Eng. A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life).

Geshe Dorji Damdul has also worked with Professor Paul Ekman, one of the pioneers of the science of micro-facial expressions. Geshela was one of the chief editors for the textbook on Buddhist Science and Philosophy. He has also worked on His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s bestselling book, Beyond Religion, as well as the Art of Happiness book series jointly written with Professor Howard Cutler. Likewise, he was and is actively involved in critical editing works of other books authored by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

In March 2011, Geshe Dorji Damdul was appointed as Director, Tibet House, New Delhi, The Cultural Centre of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In this role, Geshe Dorji Damdul’s major activity has been undertaking teaching, by introducing and subsequently, vastly expanding the courses offered.

As of today, more than 2,500 students are affiliated to one or more teaching programmes of the institution. Each year, except during the pandemic, Geshe Dorji Damdul travels widely within India and many countries across the globe, to hold bodhicitta retreats, undertake intensive teaching, and give lectures on various topics in Buddhist philosophy, psychology, logic and practice.