The Madhyamaka school, established by Nagarjuna, stands as a profound branch of Mahayana Buddhism, distinguished by its rigorous analysis of the nature of reality. Central to its philosophy is the doctrine of emptiness (śūnyatā), which asserts that all phenomena are devoid of inherent existence. Rather than possessing a fixed, independent essence, things arise only in dependence upon causes, conditions, and conceptual designation. This insight into emptiness is not a denial of conventional reality, but a recognition that what appears to exist does so only through a web of interdependent relationships.

Closely tied to this is the principle of dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda), which holds that nothing exists in isolation. Every phenomenon comes into being through the interplay of myriad causes and conditions, and thus, nothing can be found to exist from its own side. This understanding dissolves the rigid boundaries between self and other, subject and object, revealing the interconnectedness that underlies all experience.

Madhyamaka further elucidates its vision through the doctrine of the two truths: conventional truth (saṃvṛti-satya) and ultimate truth (paramārtha-satya). Conventional truth refers to the everyday world of appearances and language, the realm in which beings interact and meaning is constructed. Ultimate truth, in contrast, points to the emptiness of all phenomena—their lack of inherent nature. These two truths are not separate realities but are mutually dependent, each making sense only in relation to the other.

A hallmark of Madhyamaka thought is its commitment to the Middle Way, which skillfully avoids the extremes of eternalism—the belief in truly existent, permanent entities—and nihilism, the denial of all existence. Instead, it advocates a path that transcends these polarities, recognizing that clinging to any fixed view, even the view of emptiness, can become an obstacle to liberation. This approach encourages non-attachment to philosophical positions and a willingness to let go of conceptual elaborations.

Madhyamaka employs a distinctive method of analysis, often using reductio ad absurdum reasoning to reveal the contradictions inherent in opposing philosophical views. By carefully dismantling fixed concepts, the tradition points beyond words and ideas to a direct, non-conceptual awareness. In this way, the teachings of Nagarjuna invite practitioners to realize the ultimate freedom that comes from seeing through the illusions of inherent existence, while still engaging skillfully with the world of conventional appearances.