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Term | Definition |
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Middle way |
(skt.: madhyamika; tib.: uma) It is a system founded by Nagarjuna in the second century C.E., based on the Prajnaparamita Sutras of Shakyamuni Buddha, and considered to be the supreme presentation of the wisdom of emptiness. This view holds that all phenomena are empty of self existance and that they arise by dependant origination. It is called middle way because it avoids the two mistaken extremes (so it is in the middle of these two extremes):
1. seeing things as self existent (eternalism)
2. seeing things as non existent (nihilism)
Madhyamika is divided in two schools:
1. Madhyamika Svatantrika (uma rang gyu pa): view that still holds that things have some kind of self existence. This view is considered as lower than Madhyamika Prasangika.
2. Madhyamika Prasangika (uma ten gyur pa): view that holds that nothing at all has any kind of self existence. This view is considered supreme.
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