Inspirational Quotes by Nagarjuna (Indian Buddhist Philosopher)

Nāgārjuna (c.150–c.250 CE) was an Indian Buddhist philosopher who founded the Mādhyamika School of Mahāyāna Buddhism. He is regarded as the most prominent philosopher in the history of Buddhism after the Buddha himself.

Little is known of Nāgārjuna’s life, although it is generally accepted that he was active primarily in South India. He probably lived on the mountain of Śrīparvata near what was later called Nāgārjunakoṇḍa (“Hill of Nāgārjuna,”) in present-day Andhra Pradesh state. Some scholars speculate if Nāgārjuna was a composite figure—mythology formed by multiple teachers of that place and time.

Nāgārjuna studied both the secular and religious branches of Hindu philosophy before turning to Buddhism. He founded the Mādhyamaka School of philosophy, the earlier of the two great Indian schools of Mahāyāna thought. The two texts that most clearly present Nāgārjuna’s philosophy are the Mūlamādhyamakakārikā or the Mādhyamakaúāstra (“Stanzas of the Middle Way”) and the Vigrahavyāvartanī (“Treatise on Averting Arguments.”)

Nāgārjuna is considered a seminal figure in the emergence of Buddhism on the world stage. Buddhists of the Mahāyāna tradition consider him the “Second Buddha.” His work is widely discussed in the subsequent Buddhist literature of India, Tibet, and East Asia. His philosophy also attracted considerable attention in Europe and North America.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Nagarjuna