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voidness

3 9.9

A state in which things do not have their own separate, lasting existence

noun
/ˈvɔɪdnəs/

Formal

: vacuidad

Meditation often helps practitioners grasp the concept of voidness, which leads to a deeper understanding of existence.

Examples

Philosophers frequently discuss voidness to illustrate ideas of emptiness in their theories about reality.
In each sadhana, there will be a slightly different method of meditating on voidness.

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Question: If one really understood voidness, then would the chair no longer hold us?

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We still have an understanding of voidness, but we're not totally absorbed in it.

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And the more that we see voidness, the more compassionate we become?

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We take as the principal discriminating awareness the awareness of voidness.

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When you focus on voidness, there's no appearance of true existence.

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Wisdom, discriminating awareness, is the same—the understanding of the voidness of all phenomena.

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The teachings emphasize that recognizing voidness is essential for overcoming attachments and desires.

Synonyms

absence

vsvoidness

216 2.1

A lack of someone or something that should be there

refers to lacking inherent existence rather than a simple lack of presence

void

vsvoidness

182 6.5

A very empty space or feeling that is hard to fill

is about lacking inherent independent existence rather than physical or emotional emptiness

emptiness

vsvoidness

58 5.3

A feeling that life has no meaning

concerns missing inherent independent existence rather than pointless feeling

nothingness

vsvoidness

32 7.2

A state with no people or things in it

highlights lack of inherent existence instead of simply no existence

nonexistence

vsvoidness

5 7.0

A state in which something is not there

asserts lack of independent inherent existence rather than mere absence

blankness

vsvoidness

4 4.3

A feeling of emptiness with no thoughts or emotion

highlights missing independent essence rather than simple surface emptiness

sunyata

vsvoidness

Specialized

1 9.9

A calm inner state with no strong thoughts or wants

is the broader philosophical term not tied to one religion

nonbeing

vsvoidness

Formal

1 9.8

The state of not existing

emphasizes absence of independent essence rather than total nonexistence

vacuousness

vsvoidness

Formal

1 9.2

A state of being empty of meaning and thought

focuses on absence of independent existence not lack of ideas

insubstantiality

vsvoidness

9.2

A lack of being real, strong, or convincing

focuses on missing independent inherent existence rather than mere weakness

nihility

vsvoidness

9.9

A state in which nothing exists

stresses lack of inherent independent existence rather than absolute nonbeing

nullity

vsvoidness

9.9

A situation when something does not exist

signals lack of independent being rather than simple absence

vacuity

vsvoidness

9.7

An empty space with nothing inside

frames emptiness as lacking independent essence rather than physical space

Antonyms

existence

838 2.8

The state of being real or alive

fullness

7 2.7

A state in which something has as much inside as it can hold

Surface Forms

voidness singular

voidnesses plural

Morphology

voidness = void (semi-transparent) = void + ness

Formed from the adjective 'void' + '-ness', but in philosophical/religious contexts the term denotes a specialized technical concept (not simply 'being empty').

Etymology

Voidness comes from the word void, from Latin vacuus meaning 'empty', plus the suffix -ness that makes a noun. You can see the same root in vacant and vacuum. So in philosophy it means the state of being without its own independent existence, which is why thinkers use 'voidness' for the empty or unfixed nature of things.