09/27/2026
"Emptiness is form." - Buddha in the Essence of Wisdom Sutra (The Heart Sutra)
A breath-taking rainbow appeared this evening over City Park in Fort Collins, which conjures up the beautiful passage by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in his book The New Heart of Wisdom:
"To illustrate how our body is a mere appearance, we can consider the analogy of a rainbow. In certain conditions a rainbow appears in the sky. To the observer it appears that the rainbow has a certain size, shape and location in space. It seems to have its own existence, perhaps three or four miles away. However, we know that if we travel to the apparent location of the rainbow there will be no trace of a rainbow there. We can say therefore that the rainbow is a mere appearance and cannot be found upon investigation. Although other objects, such as our body, seem to have a more concrete existence, if we investigate carefully we will discover that they too are a mere appearance.
Through our experience, we know that the appearance of a rainbow is deceptive. It appears to have its own independent existence but we know that its existence depends on the sun, the rain and the position of the observer. If the observer moves, the rainbow moves; if the sun goes behind a cloud, the rainbow fades or disappears. Provided we accept that the rainbow is only an appearance that arises in dependence upon certain causes and conditions, we can accept its existence and behave appropriately. However, if we cling to the idea that the rainbow exists independently of us and is fixed in space in the way that it appears, we may travel in search of the 'end of the rainbow,' and experience only frustration.
The same is true of all forms and of phenomena in general. If we accept them as mere appearances we can establish their existence and relate to them appropriately, without experiencing any problems. Again, though, if we cling to phenomena as existing inherently in the way that they appear we will experience constant problems and frustration. Just as through experience we have learned the real nature of a rainbow, so through study and contemplation we can understand the subtle conventional nature of form and other phenomena, and begin to relate to them appropriately."
