Day 55 of 365: Two Steps

There is not a single phenomenon
That is not dependently arisen.
Therefore, there is not a single phenomenon
That is not empty.

It seems that Nagarjuna gives us a two step process here to approach emptiness.  Step 1 is to see everything as dependently arisen, which seems more approachable that see everything as empty.  Moving throughout our day, what do we see that is not dependently arisen?  Flash on the dependent nature of everything you encounter.  Take a couple solid-seeming phenomena and investigate more closely.  In many cases, our belief that things are not dependently arisen seems more like being dismissive.  We know that causes and conditions are necessary for everything to arise, but we sort of push that off to the side.  It seems we must strengthen our confidence in this and train in seeing deeper and not dismissing.  Step 2 is to see all phenomena as empty.  Once we have confidence in the nature of things, or a thing, as dependently arisen, we can ask how solid it is?  Is our experience open, spacious, and relaxed?  Are phenomena dream-like, similar to reflections in water?  Are we still taking our concepts as real?  It seems that perhaps Step 2 is a litmus test for Step 1.  Perhaps our understanding of dependently arisen phenomena is not deep enough if we are not experiencing the world as appearance-emptiness.