Nagarjuna, the eminent Buddhist philosopher of the Madhyamaka school, articulates a profound vision of suffering through the lens of emptiness, or śūnyatā. In his view, all phenomena—including suffering and the self—are empty of inherent, independent existence. Rather than possessing a fixed essence, these arise only through dependent origination, contingent upon myriad causes and conditions. This insight dismantles the illusion of permanence and separateness, revealing that suffering is not an immutable reality but a conditioned phenomenon that can be understood and ultimately transcended.

Central to Nagarjuna’s analysis is the Middle Way, a dialectic that avoids the extremes of absolutism and nihilism. Through rigorous examination, he demonstrates that neither suffering nor its causes can be found to exist independently when subjected to careful analysis. This approach is grounded in the two-truths doctrine: conventionally, suffering is experienced and must be addressed, yet ultimately, it is devoid of intrinsic reality. Recognizing this distinction allows for a more nuanced engagement with the experience of dukkha, neither denying its presence nor reifying it as ultimately real.

The transformative power of Nagarjuna’s philosophy lies in the realization of emptiness. By understanding that suffering and its causes are empty of inherent existence, the habitual patterns of attachment, aversion, and ignorance—the root causes of suffering—can be dissolved. This realization leads to the cessation of grasping at suffering as something solid or unchangeable, naturally fostering non-attachment and opening the way to liberation.

Furthermore, Nagarjuna’s emphasis on interdependence encourages the cultivation of compassion. Recognizing the interconnectedness of all beings and phenomena, one is moved to empathy and understanding, seeing the suffering of others as intimately linked to one’s own. In this way, the path to freedom from suffering is not only an individual pursuit but also a call to compassionate engagement with the world, grounded in the wisdom of emptiness and the insight into the true nature of reality.