empty of inherent existence

In How To See Yourself As You Really Are,

The Dalai Lama examines the concept of emptiness and the value of dependent arising.
Dependent arising is the idea that all phenomena, physical, mental, or otherwise, exist dependent upon certain causes and conditions. As a consequence of dependent arising, nothing operates exclusively under its own power. Everything is a consequence of causes and conditions. Without the realization of interdependency, we cannot fully grasp the meaning of emptiness of all phenomena including ourselves.

To quote Nagarjuna:
"The apprehension of inherent existence is the cause of all unhealthy views.
Afflictive emotions are not produced without this error.
Therefore, when emptiness is thoroughly known,
Unhealthy views and afflictive emotions are thoroughly purified."

When we falsely conceive the way in which something exists, an exaggerated mode of thought will follow in accordance with one's own perception. Thoughts are mental projections of our own imposed ideas and beliefs of reality. By superimposing qualities onto objects, other beings, and ourselves, attachments to things are formed based on these qualitites. We say this is "my body" or "my friends" and emphasize its attractiveness, while attributing characteristics to it as inherent qualities of its existence. To grant an object with integral quality is to mistakenly believe it exists within its own right. In regards to the self, we often think of "I" as separate from others. Consequently, we may say this is "my body" asserting it is "yours". Like an illusion, we view the mind and body as separate entities. In reality, the mind cannot exist without the body and the body without the mind. Yet when a hand is burned on the stove, it's hard not to exclaim, "ohh my hand!" Almost out of a mental reflex, we see the nature of how inherent independent arising is perpetuated over the true nature of things. "I" do not exist outside of the mind body. "I" am dependent upon the mind body. Without it, "I" do not exist; therefore, the conception of oneself as a seperate and independent entity is a mentally superimposed conception of the mind body. If we perpetuate the notion we are independently arising phenomena, it is not possible to reflect on our emptiness. Instead of looking inward at emptiness, we see a mental projection of the "I". If we reflect on our own inherent emptiness, much of the daily attachments we form to people and things we deem tantamount to happiness can slowly dissolve. Attachment to our own conceptions of things is the cause of afflictive emotions. As the Dalai Lama frames it, attachment will lead us to afflictive emotions, as if by a ring in our nose.