Imagine that you are observing a large ice sheet, floating on the surface of a lake. You might see it as a solid and immovable object, but as you watch closely, you start to notice a network of cracks appearing on its surface.

These cracks spread and widen, and eventually, the ice sheet breaks up into many smaller pieces that float away in different directions.

Although the ice sheet appeared to be solid and permanent, it was actually in a constant state of change and was dependent on many factors for its existence. The temperature of the air and water, the movement of the lake, and even the slightest physical disruptions all played a role in causing the cracks to form and the ice sheet to break apart.

This realization of the emptiness of the apparently solid object can be applied to the understanding of the nature of reality. Just like the ice sheet, all phenomena are transient and in a constant state of change. There is no permanent self or identity, only the arising and passing of different conditions and causes. By contemplating the emptiness of phenomena in this way, one can gain insights into the true nature of existence and develop greater wisdom and compassion.