禅Aryadeva

saying

On the Emptiness of All Dharmas

Catuhshataka (Four Hundred Verses)

Han

Traditionally attributed

Text

Just as the body is not the foot, the foot is not the body, and neither is the self—so too with all dharmas: none has an inherent nature that can be found upon investigation. If things existed inherently, what need would there be for the path? But because all phenomena are empty of self-nature, transformation is possible, liberation is possible, and the path of awakening stands open. The student of Nagarjuna sees that emptiness is not a void to be feared but the very condition that makes compassion and awakening possible.

license: public_domain

Attribution

Lineage: Indian Patriarchs

By Aryadeva

Sources

No per-field confidence has been recorded for this teaching yet. Treat individual claims with the caution appropriate to the source list below.

Attribution status: traditional — see editorial policy for what this means.

1 supporting citation on record (see Sources above).

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