Emptiness is not Nothingness – A 2-Day Urban Retreat on the Middle-Way Philosophy

• In person and online (in-person recommended if at all possible)
• Saturday, May 2 (12:30-5:30) and Sunday, May 3 (9:30-5:30)
• Center Space, St Andrews Center, 1918 Union Avenue, Chattanooga
• $70 before April 15, $85 thereafter (Scholarships available on request)
• We will follow two short texts (provided), The Essence of the Perfection of Wisdom (better known as The Heart Sutra), and In Praise of Interdependency, Je Tsongkhapa’s brief explanation of the middle-way view of the nature of reality
• Note that this is an urban retreat, with no lodging. Snacks and drinks will be provided, but plan to bring your lunch for Sunday’s mid-day meal
• Suggested prerequisite: Calm Abiding Meditation instruction, experience with Lamrim teachings. This is an ideal follow up for those who participated in the Calm-Abiding & Special Insight Urban Retreat from March

The Opportunity

Approximately 2600 years ago, the historical Buddha attained enlightenment, finding after a long search the way to end suffering and find true happiness. From him emanated two strains of teaching, the “method” embodied by the lineage from Maitreya, and the “view,” embodied by the lineage from Manjushri and culminating in the teaching of the great Indian master Nagarjuna. Nagarjuna is credited with establishing the teachings that are the basis of the Madyamika-Prasangika philosophy, which encapsulates the view of the nature of reality that is shared by all Tibetan Buddhist schools.

Why Study the View of Emptiness?

The pandit Shatideva wrote, “All the happiness there is in the world arises from wishing others to be happy, and all the suffering there is in the world arises from wishing ourselves to be happy.” Shantideva is not saying that we should not be happy; instead, he is saying that the source of suffering is that we grasp to a deluded understanding of the self as a permanent and self-contained entity that must be clung to and defended. Conversely, by working for the happiness of others, we soften this clinging to an illusory “self,” and by doing so we reduce our suffering.

These are deep and profound teachings that challenge us to find a middle way between thinking on the one had that we – and the things around us – are inherently “real” and exist as solid entities (a logical error we call “eternalism”), and on the other hand that nothing exists and nothing matters (a logical error we call “nihilism”). The truth is found between these two extremes, and when we to discover this understanding, we find ourselves more able to be in the world with a softer touch, with less fear, and more confidence.

In this brief overview of the two texts we will explore the ideas behind wisdom of emptiness with teachings, discussion, and meditation, in order to obtain a taste of the freedom that can come from working with it. These are deep and profound teachings that monks and lay practitioners alike spend years – perhaps lifetimes – developing. In a weekend, we can’t achieve all the insight we wish for, but we can explore the path to that true happiness and well-being, and either begin or enhance the journey we are on.

About the event

This is an opportunity for a 2-day teaching and urban retreat on the Wisdom of Emptiness in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. For those with some familiarity with Buddhist philosophy and experience with meditation, come learn with us as we explore ways to sharpen our ability to experience the world as it is, rather than as the illusion we have come to believe in. The retreat will be led by Les Kertay (Tibetan name Lobsang Tharchiin), sponsored by the Paramita Center Southeast in Chattanooga.

The retreat will be held at Center Space, in St Andrews Center, 1918 Union Avenue, in Chattanooga. There will be 7 sessions of teaching and practice, each about 90 minutes, with breaks between. A lunch break will be from 1:00-2:00. We will provide snacks, coffee/tea, and water. You may bring your lunch and/or a dish to share. There will be meditation cushions and chairs available; however, we recommend bringing a yoga mat or a blanket, as well as your own meditation cushion if you prefer.

Because spots are limited, we will not be able to provide refunds if you cancel after April 15.

About the teacher

Les Kertay (Lobsang Tharchin) became interested in Buddhist philosophy as a teenager, and his interest in Buddhism continued throughout a long career as a psychologist, teacher, and consultant. Though he spent many years studying and taking teachings where he could, he wasn’t able to put the teachings together in a meaningful way despite his best efforts until 2020, when he met and began training intensively with Lama Samten. Lama Samten is a Tibetan Buddhist monk and master teacher who was living in Canada, having been trained, ordained, and deeply educated in the Tibetan tradition of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

Les has been studying with Lama Samten and the other teachers of the Paramita Centres of Toronto and Québec in this tradition, and in 2024 Lama gave permission to teach and bring the Paramita Center tradition to the US. Les continues to study, teach, and work to spread compassion through classes, developing a permanent cetner for Tibetan Buddhism in Chattanooga, and daily life.