One Feeling 99% of People Misunderstand Completely
A balloon rises not by effort but by becoming lighter inside.
Embracing the Sacred Space of Emptiness
In the West, we fear emptiness. We associate it with loneliness, loss, or failure. The instant we sense a void, we rush to fill it—social media, entertainment, substances, temporary relationships—anything to avoid that uncomfortable feeling. It's like panic-buying clutter for an empty room, believing the emptiness itself is threatening. But what if the emptiness was never the issue?
Discovering Suññatā: Emptiness as Potential
Recently, I experienced emptiness after a burst of hard work. As heavy, old conditioning patterns (sankharas) surfaced and dissolved, “waking up” afterward felt unsettled. I faced a feeling of hollowness—like suddenly looking into a room cleared of old furniture. Initially disorienting, yet undeniably full of potential. It became clear to me that this was such a natural feeling—after observing how old truths I carried manifested as dense energies in my body were released, leaving behind extra space. This allowed me to understand the feeling of hollowness, recognizing it as natural and ultimately good!
When old patterns, attachments, and beliefs dissolve, we’re left with fertile ground. Emptiness, hollowness, or Suññatā—as the old masters call it—isn't about absence, but a sacred pause between the old and the new.
Don’t worry, I will explain!
Sankharas: Understanding Dense Energies
Sankharas are dense, layered energies—accumulated impurities we carry around, like layers of stomped dirt- each dependent on the dirt below it. They’re old beliefs we secretly know to be True—like constantly worrying about what others think of us, downplaying our own struggles by comparing them to extreme situations, or believing people with different political views inherently have bad intentions.. When we don't resist their surfacing and dissolution, they lose energy, creating a spaciousness we often mistakenly interpret as emptiness or sadness because we've attached emotional significance to these beliefs, making their absence feel unsettling or uncomfortable.
These energies cannot withstand genuine awareness and equanimity because they are things we have made up in our mind—they have no real power once you confront them directly.
This is why after a burst of deep work, a deep, heartfelt conversation or reading a life changing article a feeling of emptiness, hollowness or loneliness may occur. But this empty feeling marks the start of a deep, transformative process that should be celebrated. Well fucking done. That’s how ascension works. Replacing heavy energies for organic, lighter ones. This feeling is like a bridge between the old and new you.
The Balloon Metaphor
Imagine personal growth as a balloon. As these dense energies attached to beliefs that don’t serve you dissolve, your inner balloon naturally becomes lighter.
You don't rise by force or adding complexity—you ascend by letting go of what weighs you down. This process isn't instant; there’s naturally a period when we feel empty, as a cup must first be emptied to be refilled. Or a balloon that gets a bit sad when air is taken out of it to be replaced with helium.
When the balloon looses some of its content, it will not feel like its old self - it will feel a bit scrunched up.
Real spiritual transformation isn't about adding —it's about releasing
Anxiety of Open Space
Yet, facing emptiness can feel bad. But it’s a perspective thing. The openness feels ungrounded, raw. Our instinct is to rush back to familiar distractions and clutter. But true wisdom recognizes this emptiness as sacred—temporary, fertile, and transformative. Filling this space prematurely with distractions is like planting weeds in freshly cleared soil. We don’t have to do anything! The deep work is already done; now let the space be filled with what comes naturally.
To make it even clearer, think about ending a relationship—whether with a person, a job. Initially, it feels hollow, like something essential is suddenly missing. We often label this feeling as loneliness, but that's just our reaction to emptiness, not emptiness itself.
Most people rush to fill this new space—jumping into a rebound relationship, returning to an old job—just to avoid facing the discomfort. But if you resist immediately filling that void, you'll realize it's actually a precious moment of potential. It's the gap between who you were and who you're becoming.
Practicing Emptiness Mindfully
We can embrace emptiness by shifting our perception:
Recognize emptiness as sacred potential rather than a threat.
Resist immediately filling emptiness with distractions.
Gently anchor yourself in nature, gratitude, or quiet observation.
Trust that lighter, healthier patterns will naturally emerge.
Beyond Emptiness
Emptiness is not our permanent destination—it’s a bridge between the old and the new. Life should ultimately feel rich, empowering, and overflowing! We aren’t running after emptiness; we are moving towards an overflowing cup so we can share one cup with hundreds of people.
Emptiness isn't lack—it’s the bridge between old and new.
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