In a larger sense, Sunyata is also conceived of as the ultimate nature of reality. In this sense, it is synonomous with the Buddhist conception of emptiness, meaning that phenomena lack a permanent identity or underlying "self," and that things exist because of 'dependent-arising' rather than any metaphysical workings hidden behind phenomenal existence. As is the case in many esoteric doctrines of Buddhist, Hindu, and similar Eastern mystical traditions, the 'dual-meaning' of Sunyata as it applies to emptiness of mind and emptiness of reality is seen as illustrative of the fundamental inseperability of microcosm and macrocosm.