Madhyamaka, meaning “the Middle Way” or “Middle Path,” is a central philosophical school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Indian philosopher Nāgārjuna in the 2nd century CE. It is regarded as one of the most profound and influential schools of Buddhist thought, with its primary focus on the doctrine of emptiness (शून्यता Śūnyatā), which emphasizes the middle path between extremes of existence and non-existence.

The term Madhyamaka refers to the middle position that avoids two extremes:

1. Eternalism (Skt.: śāśvata-vāda): The belief in the eternal, inherent existence of things.
2. Nihilism (Skt.: uccheda-vāda): The belief that things are completely non-existent or that nothing has any basis in reality.

The core teaching of Madhyamaka is the concept of śūnyatā, which asserts that all phenomena are empty of inherent, independent existence. This does not mean that things do not exist at all, but rather that they exist in a dependent and relational manner, arising from causes and conditions. Since nothing exists independently or permanently, all phenomena are seen as empty of self-nature (svabhāva). This insight is intended to free the practitioner from attachment to fixed views and to the dualities that cause suffering, such as subject and object, existence and non-existence.

Key Concepts in Madhyamaka:

1. Emptiness (Śūnyatā): All phenomena are empty of inherent existence because they are dependently originated. Emptiness does not denote a void or nothingness, but rather the absence of intrinsic, independent essence in all things. This is closely connected to the teaching of pratītyasamutpāda (dependent origination).
2. Two Truths Doctrine: Madhyamaka distinguishes between two levels of truth: • Conventional Truth (Saṃvṛti-satya): The truth of everyday reality, where things appear to exist and function in a relative sense. • Ultimate Truth (Paramārtha-satya): The truth of emptiness, which reveals the illusory and dependent nature of all things. The two truths are not separate realities but two ways of understanding the same phenomena.
3. Prāsaṅgika and Svātantrika: Within the Madhyamaka tradition, two main sub-schools developed: • Prāsaṅgika Madhyamaka: This sub-school, represented by philosophers like Chandrakīrti, argues that the best way to establish emptiness is through the use of reductio ad absurdum (prasaṅga) arguments, which demonstrate the contradictions inherent in opposing views. • Svātantrika Madhyamaka: Associated with Bhāviveka, this sub-school uses independent syllogistic reasoning to explain emptiness while still maintaining some conventional reality in the process of reasoning.

The Madhyamaka school profoundly influenced the development of Mahāyāna Buddhist philosophy, shaping both the Yogācāra school and the later development of Tibetan Buddhism. In particular, Madhyamaka plays a central role in Tibetan Buddhist traditions, where it is regarded as the highest view for understanding reality.

By recognizing the middle way between the extremes of existence and non-existence, Madhyamaka teaches that liberation from suffering comes from the direct experiential realization of the emptiness of all phenomena. This understanding leads to non-attachment, wisdom, and compassion, the qualities necessary for the attainment of Buddhahood.

Buddhist Lexicon

मध्यमक Madhyamaka

शून्यता Śūnyatā