Where do we come from?

What is the true source of our life?

There are many answers to these questions. Mostly they serve to confirm the reality of our current identity, supporting our belief that I am who I think I am.

This book offers an alternative view based on the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni. On a relative level, every aspect of our experience arises in dependence on some other arisings. Due to this dependence no arising or appearance has an inherent existence, not me, not you. On a more profound level, all appearances and experiences arise inseparable from emptiness-nothing is ever established as existing in truth. Empty of self-essence, each and every appearance including ourselves is not other than emptiness. Emptiness is not a null void, but the ever-open source of our life.

Ever fertile emptiness, the ever-fertile mother of everything, is symbolised by the Great Mother Prajnaparamita, the essence of the wisdom of emptiness that is the mother of all the Buddhas. This mother is our source. This mother is, in fact, the source of everything as it actually is. This mother is the source of all of us becoming Buddhas therefore we honour her.

In similar fashion, we honour our own mother in this life, remembering with gratitude all her kindnesses. Moreover we remember that all sentient beings have been our own mother in previous lives and honour their kindnesses.