importance of conceptual understanding of shunyata 1st

[mudra]

The Great Fifth Dalai Lama commented in "Practising Emptiness" that even when one first gets a mere, clear conceptual understanding of emptiness it is momentuous. He says that for those who have no previous imprints it is a little frightening, as if someone snatched something off the palm of your hand. For those who have previous imprints he said it is like someone suddenly placed a jewel in your palm.