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
Because there are no phenomena which are not dependent arisings, there are no phenomena which are not void.
—Nagarjuna
The misery which follows pleasure
Is the pleasure which follows misery.
The pleasure and misery of mankind
Revolve like a wheel.
—Nagarjuna
Although you may spend your life killing, You will not exhaust all your foes. But if you quell your own anger, your real enemy will be slain.
—Nagarjuna
Topics: Hatred, Hate
An anthill increases by accumulation. Medicine is consumed by distribution. That which is feared lessens by association. This is the thing to understand.
—Nagarjuna
Topics: Fear
This body, full of faults, has yet one great quality: whatever it encounters in this temporal life depends upon one’s actions.
—Nagarjuna
Topics: Action
He who does not attempt to make peace
When small discords arise,
Is like the bee’s hive which leaks drops of honey –
Soon, the whole hive collapses.
—Nagarjuna
He who knoweth the precepts by heart, but faileth to practice them, Is like unto one who lighteth a lamp and then shutteth his eyes.
—Nagarjuna
Of all possessions, contentedness is the best by far.
—Nagarjuna
Topics: Buddhism
Instruct yourself (more and more) in the highest morality.
—Nagarjuna
Topics: Buddhism
The teachings of elegant sayings
Should be collected when one can.
For the supreme gift of words of wisdom,
Any price will be paid.
—Nagarjuna
Topics: Words
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