This profound statement highlights that everything existing relies on other things for its being. Because nothing exists independently, everything is therefore 'empty' of a fixed, unchanging essence.
Quote by Nagarjuna: “That which is causally dependent is emptiness.”
That which is causally dependent is emptiness.
Insight
Historical Context
Nagarjuna's concept of emptiness (shunyata) was a revolutionary reinterpretation of dependent origination. He argued that because things arise dependently, they lack inherent self-existence, challenging prevailing philosophical views.
About the Author
Indian Buddhist philosopher of the second century CE whose Mulamadhyamakakarika established the Madhyamaka school of philosophy, one of the most influential strands of Buddhist thought. He developed the concept of sunyata (emptiness) with rigorous logical precision, arguing that all phenomena lack inherent existence. His work shaped Mahayana Buddhism across Asia.
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