shunyata

Noun

sunyata (countable and uncountable, plural sunyatas)

1. (Hinduism, Jainism) Emptiness, the absence of an intrinsic essence or nature which is stable and separable from other things.
   • However since emptiness empties itself and so cannot itself be an object of attachment, dynamic 'sunyata' empties itself out as just the things themselves.1993, Sunyata, Emptiness and Self-emptying, Kenosis by Ven. Dr. Rewata Dhamma published in Buddhist - Christian Dialogue London, 27th March
2. Emptiness, in terms of a meditative state; an Eastern concept of a high meditative state of calm and freedom from distraction.
   • Shunyata can be explained in a very simple way. […] In the shunyata experience, the attention is on the field rather than on its contents.1975, Herbert V. Guenther, Chögyam Trungpa, The Dawn of Tantra, 2001, Shambhala Publications, pages not numbered