Meditation and the Power in Emptiness: Unlocking Limitless Potential
“Once I knew only darkness and stillness... my life was without past or future... but a little word from the fingers of another fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness, and my heart leaped to the rapture of living.”
Ancient Buddhist scriptures often discuss Emptiness as an enlightened state—an ideal that monks and meditators attain during deep meditation. Because of this teaching, many people associate Emptiness with meditation and inner peace. However, there are many layers to this state; Emptiness is a void with immeasurable depth.
In Emptiness, there lies ultimate spiritual freedom. A soul, unbound, is free to access any dimension of consciousness. But does Emptiness have an application in the physical world, especially for those of us still experiencing the material plane here on Earth?
The Fool’s journey and its spiritual significance
Not long ago, I had an engaging discussion about binary code with a tech-savvy MD. Our mutual fascination with the binary code led us down a rabbit hole about creation and a debate over which digit holds more power—the "0" or the "1." Being a Tarot enthusiast, my mind instantly drew a comparison between the Tarot's "0" and "1" cards in the Major Arcana.
If you’re not familiar with Tarot, it’s a deck of 78 cards dating back as early as the 15th century. Because of their elaborate illustrations and rich spiritual symbolism, they became a tool for divination in 18th-century Europe. Of these 78 cards, 21 are trump cards, considered more powerful than the regular suits. They are numbered in sequence from 1 to 21, with number 1 representing The Magician (or Creatrix, in some decks), arguably the most powerful card. Yet it is not the first official card of the Tarot deck. There is one card that stands alone, and precedes The Magician—Number 0, The Fool.
While The Magician has all the tools and can create something out of nothing, The Fool is nothing. The Fool knows nothing, expects nothing, and is a blank canvas—a fresh beginning, an emptiness to be filled. In most depictions, The Fool is a young person carrying a walking stick with a small sack tied to the end, joyously embarking on an unknown journey. The Fool fears nothing because he knows nothing, and his only direction is forward, filled with excitement for the adventure ahead.
So, my pick for the most powerful digit was “0,” the number of Emptiness.
Infinite possibilities lie in the unknown
I have a particular fondness for The Fool. While it’s easy to see The Magician as almighty and powerful, The Fool’s innocence and emptiness give him the power of zero limitations. The Fool has no judgment or preconceived notions. He doesn’t carry a history of trauma, guilt, or pain, nor does he have a set agenda. He doesn’t resist what’s coming, whether it’s “good” or “bad”—in fact, he doesn’t even label things as good or bad. There is tremendous beauty in that state of pure acceptance.
Creation happens in the void. As soon as there is a single option, a limitation arises because there is now a point of reference. Even The Magician has to create something out of nothing; it is from this nothingness that anything can be created. And though The Magician has all the tools, each tool inherently limits how it can be used. The Magician may be wise and knowledgeable, but knowledge has boundaries. Knowledge doesn’t comprehend what lies in the unknown until it is learned.
Similarly, in our modern world, we are taught a vast amount of information. We are each given tools to survive and acquire new knowledge to navigate our rapidly evolving culture. Knowledge feels essential, yet when we travel to a foreign country without speaking the language or understanding the customs, we manage. Often, we return from such journeys exhilarated by the adventure. This is, in a sense, The Fool’s journey—relinquishing control and expectations and allowing anything to happen. By surrendering to the unknown, we open ourselves to surprises and miracles—things that can only exist in the unknown.
How meditation on Emptiness unlocks inner freedom
When people ask if I follow a specific meditation method, I usually answer, “not really.” But if there’s one practice I return to, it’s the practice of connecting to Emptiness. By that, I don’t mean emptying my mind of thoughts or desires; instead, I meditate to connect with The Fool within.
In our advanced world, we’re constantly bombarded with new products, information, techniques, choices, philosophies, and more. Every day, we form new opinions, make decisions, and choose how we want to live—all within the confines of what we’re presented with. Our world is only as big as our current way of thinking allows. We subconsciously reject what doesn’t resonate and judge what feels comfortable or uncomfortable to pursue. Whether we see it or not, we’re each limited by our own knowledge.
The practice of Emptiness in meditation is about reconnecting to an innocent mind, one that embraces the unknown with faith and enthusiasm. It means becoming aware of judgmental thoughts, restrictive knowledge, and fears tied to past experiences. With this practice, we let go of the illusion of control and release fear-based limitations, allowing us to take inspired actions and explore our full potential. Without this practice, we often rely on past knowledge and experience, guarding against potential disappointment, hurt, or failure, and taking only calculated actions. The former welcomes all experiences with openness; the latter holds us back before something even begins.
Being in a state of Emptiness feels not only peaceful and freeing but incredibly powerful. We’ve forgotten how to create because we’ve forgotten how to be empty. We’re weighed down by distractions, possessions, worries, and self-judgment. But once you find comfort in peaceful Emptiness, you realize that you don’t need to force anything. In this state, you can create anything you want—because there are no limitations.
