Madhyamaka

The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way (Mūlamadhyamakakārikā)

Nāgārjuna

Why it matters

The foundational Madhyamaka text that deconstructs all substantial existence through śūnyatā and dependent origination, dissolving the dualistic views of being and non-being.

The tradition behind it

Madhyamaka, the Middle Way school founded on the work of Nagarjuna, teaches that nothing exists with a fixed, independent essence. Things arise in dependence on causes and conditions, and are therefore empty (sunyata). Seeing this loosens the grip of rigid views, including views about ourselves.

Try it in practice

• Look for the edge

  Find where the problem begins and ends. Look for its edges, its location, its owner. What you find is a set of conditions, not a solid thing.

• Given this, that

  Name three conditions that had to meet for this to be here. Notice that none of them is the trouble by itself, and none of them is you.

Read alongside

• Nagarjuna's Precious Garland (Ratnavali) · Nāgārjuna, translated by Jeffrey Hopkins
• Introduction to the Middle Way (Madhyamakavatara) · Chandrakirti