Madhyamaka invites a careful examination of how suffering arises from grasping at things as solid, fixed, and inherently real. The self that feels hurt or anxious, the emotions that seem overwhelming, and the situations that appear so heavy are all understood as dependently arisen, without an independent core. When this is contemplated, the sense of “I” and “mine” begins to loosen, and the ego-clinging that intensifies pain is gradually undermined. This is not a denial of experience, but a refinement of how it is seen: phenomena function on a conventional level, yet lack the inherent nature that is projected onto them.

In practice, this perspective can be brought directly into moments of emotional turmoil. When anger, fear, or craving arises, one can observe the emotion and inquire into its location, its duration, and its supposed solidity, noticing how it continually shifts and depends on many conditions. The same analysis can be applied to the object of attachment—status, possessions, relationships—revealing that these too lack the permanent, independent qualities imagined by the mind. As this insight deepens, attachment and aversion naturally lose some of their force, and equanimity becomes more accessible.

Madhyamaka also emphasizes a Middle Way between two extremes: taking things as absolutely, permanently real on the one hand, and falling into a nihilistic view that nothing exists or matters on the other. By recognizing that phenomena are empty yet still operate within conventional truth, it becomes possible to live and act meaningfully without being bound by rigid identities or views. This balanced understanding reduces mental agitation and supports a stable, spacious awareness in which experiences can arise and pass without compulsive reactivity.

From this vantage, relationships and ethical engagement are transformed. Others are seen as streams of causes and conditions, just as oneself is, which softens harsh judgment and blame. Recognizing that beings suffer due to ignorance of emptiness naturally gives rise to compassion, while awareness of emptiness prevents becoming overwhelmed by others’ pain. In this way, insight into śūnyatā does not lead to withdrawal, but to a more flexible, humble, and compassionate participation in the world, in which inner peace and outward responsiveness mutually reinforce one another.