The Practice of Emptiness: New Tricycle Essay by Guo Gu, March 16, 2026

In The Practice of Emptiness, Guo Gu highlights how our use of words and language conditions us and the importance of exposing this as part of practice, including how we understand wisdom teachings such as emptiness. He explains that the traditional apophatic language of negation (that frames teachings through characteristics they do not have) such as the expression of emptiness as impermanence, and lacking enduring substance, shapes our perception in ways that might evoke a sense of pessimism and lead to misunderstandings.

Guo Gu offers an alternate (cataphatic, positive) perspective of understanding concepts such as emptiness or awakening. He writes:

First, we should learn to appreciate “emptiness” as boundless possibilities and “impermanence” as new beginnings. Concretely, we learn by exposing the habitual ways words and language shape our experiences. When we think ‘I like this’ or ‘I don’t like that,’ ‘I’m not good enough’ or ‘I am traumatized,’ we are creating shackles for ourselves, reifying our experience. Liberate yourself from these shackles. When difficulties arise, observe your old reactive patterns and respond with a different perspective: ‘Oh, that’s interesting,’ or ‘Great, a new beginning,’ or ‘What possibilities!’ This flexibility, seeing experience as possibilities and new beginnings, embodies emptiness. Shift our perceptions, and psychophysiological responses will align.

Thus, as part of one’s practice it is crucial to notice and expose the habitual patterns of thoughts and feelings, and not identify with them.  “Not identifying with arising thoughts, feelings, and views is the practice of emptiness. Experiencing them as wondrous displays of possibility is emptiness in action.”

To read the full article:

https://tricycle.org/article/the-practice-of-emptiness/