Here is what I learned from ChatGPT:

Me: what is emptiness?

ChatGPT:

In Buddhism, "emptiness" (also known as "shunyata" in Sanskrit) refers to the absence of inherent existence in all things. It is the idea that all phenomena, including the self, are empty of an independent, unchanging essence. Emptiness is not a lack of something, but rather an understanding of the nature of things as they truly are.

Emptiness is a central doctrine of Mahayana Buddhism, and is said to be the ultimate realization of the nature of reality. It is the understanding that all things are interconnected and dependent upon one another, and that there is no inherent, independent self. This realization is said to lead to a release from suffering, as it undermines the illusion of self and the attachment to things which are the root cause of suffering.

The concept of emptiness is often difficult to understand and can be misunderstood as nihilism or the negation of things. However, it is important to remember that emptiness does not mean that things do not exist, but rather that they do not exist in the way we usually perceive them to exist. Emptiness is not a denial of the reality of things, but a deeper understanding of the nature of things.

In summary, emptiness is the central doctrine of Mahayana Buddhism and refers to the absence of inherent existence in all things, meaning that all things are interconnected and dependent upon one another, and that there is no inherent, independent self. It is the ultimate realization of the nature of reality and is said to lead to release from suffering.