Nagarjuna
Ārya Nāgārjuna
c. 150-250 • Indian
Buddhism
2nd-century Indian Buddhist philosopher, founder of the Madhyamaka ('Middle Way') school. His Mūlamadhyamakakārikā develops the doctrine of śūnyatā (emptiness) — that no phenomenon possesses inherent existence — through razor-sharp dialectical analysis.
Key Works
- Mūlamadhyamakakārikā
- Letter to a Friend
- Precious Garland
111
quotes in library
Quotes by Nagarjuna
111 quotes“Liberation depends on the cessation of those causes.”
liberationMulamadhyamakakarika 24
“What we call 'self' is merely a designation, dependent on the aggregates.”
non-selfMulamadhyamakakarika 18.1
“There is no self apart from the aggregates, nor any self that is identical to them.”
non-selfMulamadhyamakakarika 18.1
“When the false notion of 'I' falls away, all clinging falls with it.”
liberationMulamadhyamakakarika 18.4
“Then the wise see things as they are.”
seeingMulamadhyamakakarika 18.5
“What you call 'truth' is dependent on convention.”
conventionMulamadhyamakakarika 24.8
“What is ultimately true is beyond all conventions.”
ultimateMulamadhyamakakarika 24.8
“All beings are essentially Buddha.”
buddha-natureBodhicittavivarana
“Both must be known to walk the middle way.”
middle-wayMulamadhyamakakarika 24
“Cause and effect are inseparable; you cannot find one without the other.”
causalityMulamadhyamakakarika 1
“Examine carefully — neither cause nor effect possesses inherent existence.”
emptinessMulamadhyamakakarika 1.1
“Whatever is dependently caused is empty of inherent self-existence.”
emptinessMulamadhyamakakarika 1
“This is the lion's roar of the Buddha.”
emptinessMulamadhyamakakarika dedication
“To see emptiness is to see dependent arising.”
emptinessMulamadhyamakakarika 24.40
“To see dependent arising is to see the dharma.”
dharmaMulamadhyamakakarika 24.40
“To see the dharma is to see the Buddha.”
buddhaMulamadhyamakakarika 24.40
“Dependent arising is the wisdom that liberates.”
wisdomMulamadhyamakakarika 24
“Without it, suffering and its causes cannot be uprooted.”
liberationMulamadhyamakakarika 24
“Attachment is the root of suffering.”
letting-goMulamadhyamakakarika
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