Master Sheng Yen, one of the greatest religious leaders in Taiwan, died of kidney failures days ago. His final words were “‘jimei wei lu’ dying out is joy” and ‘”ben lai meiyo wo, shen si jei ke pao’I no longer exist at the outset; life or death can be discarded. Undoubtedly, his philosophical way of thinking has made much impact on his followers and many people, who practice the doctrine of emptiness or nothingness.

How could nothingness be a joyful thing? Worldly speaking, it is quite right as a mortal that we are subject to die and what we cling to eventually fall apart and die away. Yet, we’re not “nothingness”, spiritually speaking; we’re unique, created and loved by God, creator of heaven and earth. We are “as nothing and yet possessing all things” (2 Corinthians 6:10); we are not nothingness but “everthingness” because Christ died on the cross and has become our nothing.

Jesus said, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). True life and joy can be found only in Jesus, for he has taken the burden of God’s wrath and overcome the power of death.  Through the gate of death we Christian enter the kingdom of God’s eternal joy and bliss.