Nagarjuna
Ārya Nāgārjuna
c. 150-250 • Indian
Buddhism
2nd-century Indian Buddhist philosopher, founder of the Madhyamaka ('Middle Way') school. His Mūlamadhyamakakārikā develops the doctrine of śūnyatā (emptiness) — that no phenomenon possesses inherent existence — through razor-sharp dialectical analysis.
Key Works
- Mūlamadhyamakakārikā
- Letter to a Friend
- Precious Garland
109
quotes in library
Quotes by Nagarjuna
109 quotes“In emptiness, find your liberation.”
liberationVigrahavyavartani
“The middle way is not a middle position between two views.”
middle-wayMulamadhyamakakarika
“It is the abandonment of all views.”
middle-wayMulamadhyamakakarika
“What remains when views are released? — Direct experience of suchness.”
suchnessMulamadhyamakakarika
“This cannot be told, only known.”
ineffableMulamadhyamakakarika
“All conditioned things are like a dream, a phantom, a bubble, a shadow.”
impermanenceDiamond Sutra (Madhyamaka usage)
“Like dew or a flash of lightning — thus should they be seen.”
impermanenceDiamond Sutra
“He who clings to phenomena clings to suffering.”
non-clingingMulamadhyamakakarika
“He who sees through phenomena finds peace.”
peaceMulamadhyamakakarika
“Examine the doer of action — and you will not find him.”
non-selfMulamadhyamakakarika 8
“Examine the action — and you will not find it apart from conditions.”
emptinessMulamadhyamakakarika 8
“This examination, sustained, is the entrance to wisdom.”
inquiryMulamadhyamakakarika 8
“Where is the goer apart from going?”
interdependenceMulamadhyamakakarika 2
“Where is the going apart from the goer?”
interdependenceMulamadhyamakakarika 2
“Both arise together — neither stands alone.”
interdependenceMulamadhyamakakarika 2
“Liberation is not the destruction of phenomena.”
liberationMulamadhyamakakarika 25
“It is the seeing of phenomena as they are.”
seeingMulamadhyamakakarika 25
“And what they are is empty, dependent, beyond extremes.”
realityMulamadhyamakakarika 25
“This seeing is itself liberation.”
liberationMulamadhyamakakarika 25
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