The Mulamadhyamakakarika: Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way Nagarjuna The Mulamadhyamakakarika: Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way

The Prologue: Nagarjuna identifies pratityasamutpada as the heart of the Buddha’s teaching

In Chapter XXIV, 18 & 19 Nagarjuna states his first main idea: That everything that arises in dependent origination is empty (sunya); And that everything that exists is in dependent origination and therefore is empty.

Nagarjuna’s Opponent Objects: If everything is empty, then nothing really exists. That means that Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path don’t really exist. And Nirvana doesn’t really exist.

So, there’s no point in Buddhism if everything is empty!

Nagarjuna Explains: It’s only because things are empty of own-being that they can change. Without change, there could be no end to suffering, no achievement of Nirvana. So, Buddhism ONLY MAKES SENSE IF ALL THINGS ARE EMPTY.

In his own words: If everything is non-sunya, then the attainment of a person who aspires, the actions leading to the cessation of suffering, and the destruction of all defilements will not exist (i.e. be possible). One who rightly discerns relational origination will, indeed, rightly discern universal suffering, its origination, its extinction, and the way to enlightenment.

Nagarjuna’s second big idea: The Two Truths Relative Truth “Without relying on relative truths, the absolute truth cannot be expressed.” Absolute Truth “Without approaching the absolute truth, Nirvana cannot be attained.”

Examples of the two truths: 1 The Buddha After he achieved nirodha, we cannot say that the Buddha existed the Buddha did not exist the Buddha both existed and didn’t exist the Buddha neither existed nor didn’t exist

Examples of the two truths: 2 Nirvana Nirvana is not being non-being both being and non-being neither being nor non-being

Nagarjuna’s Most Famous Claim: Samsara is nothing essentially different from nirvana. Nirvana is nothing essentially different from samsara. The limits of nirvana are the limits of samsara. Between the two, there is not the slightest difference whatsoever.