Quote by Vimalakirti Sutra: “All dharmas are empty of self‑nature. There is no 'I' or 'mine'.”

This core Buddhist teaching asserts that all phenomena lack inherent, independent existence, including the self. It invites one to see through the illusion of a separate ego, leading to a deeper understanding of interconnectedness and freedom from self-centered suffering.

The concept of emptiness (śūnyatā) is central to Mahayana Buddhism, which the Vimalakirti Sutra elaborates with great eloquence. It formed a philosophical foundation for later Buddhist schools in Asia, promoting a radical shift in perspective on reality.

Buddhist Mahayana sutra attributed to the layman Vimalakirti, believed to have been composed in India around the first or second century CE. The text is celebrated for its wit, philosophical sophistication, and its radical argument that enlightenment is available to laypeople, not just monks. It was highly influential in Chinese and Japanese Buddhism and features one of the most famous silences in philosophical literature.