How the Middle Path Has
become a Sunyata Doctrine
Doctrine of Emptiness
Middle Path- Sunyata
Paticcasamuppada known as theory
of Cause (Hetu) and Effect (Phala).
 This hetu and phala become the
other way of Hetu and Phala means
Avijja paccaya sankhara becomes
sankhara paccaya avijja.
If so that hetu Phala will not remains
as hetu and phala any more.
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Middle Path - Sunyata
If anything is dependently originated
that thing does not have its own
intrinsic nature (Svatantra). That is
dependent always and exists when
only the causes are there.
 The meaning of Sunyata is empty of
its intrinsic nature.
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Middle Path - Sunyata
That is the reason Nagarjuna
mentioned “Yah pratitya samutpadah
sunyatam tam pracaksmahe” (If
anything is dependently originated.)
 This primary concept has been
provided for Arya Nagarjuna by the
Prajnaparamita literature.
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Middle path-Sunyata
Prajnaparamita literature explains the
sunyata (emptiness) and its main theme is
sunyata.
 According to the Prajnaparamita literature
prajna means realization of sunyata. In
order to realize that sunyata one has to
devoid of view of Atman.
 In the same way Arya Nagarjuna pada
using the theory of Pratityasamutpada
Explained the relativity of all dharmas
(Sarva dhama) Sunyata.
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Middle Path - Sunyata
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The name Madhyamaka is given for
this theory. This name has given by
Arya Nagarjuna.
On this theory Madhyamaka
Philosophy has been built up.
This name is given for Middle Path
for the Practice in Middle.
Middle Path - Sunyata
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Analysis of meaning of the
Concept of Sunyata
In order to draw the meaning of
Sunyata one has to go to the Early
Buddhism.
Later on this concept of Sunyata has
been philosophically explained.
Middle Path - Sunyata
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This “Sunyata” word has explained
in Pali as “Sunnata”.
This Sunnata has properly defined in
Pali Nikayas.
This primarily we can see in two
occasions.
One occasion is in the Samyutta
Nikaya how the Asankhatagami
magga (Uncondition Path) explained.
Middle Path - Sunyata
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(Katamoca bhikkhave asankhatagami
maggo. Sunnata samadhi, Animitta
samadhi and Appanihita samadhi.
Ayam vuccati bhikkhave Asankhata –
gami maggo). “Monks, what is
Asankhatagamimagga (uncondition
Path). That is Sunnata Samadhi
Middle path - Sunyata
(Concentration on Emptiness),
Animitta samadhi (Concentration on
Signlessness), Appanihita samadhi
(Concentration on wishlessness). This
is the Asankhatagami magga.
(S.IV.360).
 In order to achieve these
concentrations the methods of
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Middle Path - Sunyata
Meditations also have been pointed
out. Those are:
1. By Anatta Bhavana – Sunnata
Samadhi
2. By Dukha Bhavana - Appanihita
samadhi
3. By Anicca Bhavana - Animitta
samadhi
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Midde Path - Sunyata
Here it as been indicated that to
realize Sunnata one has to have
Anatta bhavana.
 This has been further elaborated in
the Mogharaja Manava Puccha in
Sutta Nipata.
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Middle Path - Sunyata
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“Sunnato lokam avekkhassu
Mogharajo sada sato
Attanuditthim uhacca
Evam maccutaro siya
Evam lokam avekkhantam
Maccuraja na passati”
(Moghraja with ever mindfulness you
Middle Path - Sunyata
Have to see the world. (What kind of
mindfulness?), You must get rid of
atta-ditthi (Self-view). By this way
you can cross over the Mara. If
anyone sees the Loka (world) by this
way, the king of the death
(Maccaraja)will not see him.
 In here very important Idea has
given
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Middle path- Sunyata
That is the Sunyata means to get rid
of self-view.
 In order to get rid of self view one
has to have Prajna (Wisdom).
Without prajna no one will be able to
realize Anicca (Impermanency),
Dukkha (Suffering) and non-self
(Anatta).
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Middle Path - Sunyata
That has been mentioned in the
Dhammapada.
 1.Sabbe sankhara aniccati
Yada pannaya passati
Atha nibbindati dukkhe
Esa maggo visuddhiya.
2. Sabbe sankhara dukkhati………….
3. sabbe Dhamma anattati…………….
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Middle Path - Sunyata
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(If anyone views all conditioned
things are anicca (Impermanent)
then he becomes disgusted with the
suffering (Dukkha).This is the path to
purify). This clearly shows that to
realize imparmanency, suffering and
non-self one has to have Prajna
(wisdom).
Middle Path - Sunyata
Mahayanists saw these factors
clearly and to explain that they have
started literature in the name of
Prajnaparamita (Perfection of
Wisdom).
 For this literature of discourses
(Sutras) they named Prajnaparamita
in order to show the importance of
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Middle Path - Sunyata
Prajna and to show the
Prajnaparamita which has to develop
by a Bodhisattva to become a
Buddha.
 Though it has explained in early
Buddhism the importance of Panna
in order for the realization of
Nibbana, Mahayanikas attempted to
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Middle Path - Sunyata
Show it through the Prajnaparamita
literature.
 Mahayanists in their Sutras explained
only the Bodhisattva practice and
explained the Prajnaparamita as the
special paramita that the Bodhisatta
has to practice.
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Middle Path - Sunyata
There are about 27 Prajnaparamita
Sutras and the original sutras only
about few of them and we come
across others appear in there
Chinese and Tibetan translations.
 Among those Astasahasrika
Prajnaparamita considered as the
Earliest one.
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Middle Path - Sunyata
Because of the validity of this Sutra
as an earliest one Arya Nagarjuna
also written a commentary in the
name of Mahaprajnaparamita sastra.
 This sutra especially discusses the
full-filling of prajnaparamita by the
Bodhisattva.
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Middle Path - Sunyata
In this Sutra mentions six Paramitas
that the Bodhisattva has to practice.
 Those are Dana (Generosity),Sila
(Morality), Ksanti (Patience), Virya
(Effort), Dhyana (Concentration)
Prajna (Wisdom).
 When fulfilling these Paramitas
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Mddle Path - Sunyata
Prajna paramita will be the primary
Paramit and witout the connection of
Prajna paramita the other paramtas
even do not get the name Paramita.
 “Sarvasu kausika satsu paramitasu
bodhisatto Mahasatvanscarati. Api
tu khalu punah kausika PrajnaparamiTaiva atra purvangama.
Bodhisattvasya Mahasattvasya
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Middle Path - Sunyata
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Danam va dadatah, Silam va
raksatah, ksantam va
sampadayamansya, Viryam va
Arabhamanasya, dhyanam a
sampadayamanasya,dharma va
vipasyatah, Bodhisattasya Maha
sattvasya prajnaparamiaivatra
purvangama. Na ca kausika asam
Mddle Path - Sunyata
Sannam paramitanam mupayakausalya parigrahitanam prajnaparamita
parinamitanam Sarvajnata
parinamitanam visesah na ca na na
karanam upalabhyate”.
 (The Buddha says, Kausika, the
Bodhisattva the great being, walks in
all these perfections. But Kausika
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Middle Path - Sunyata
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Here the Praqjnaparamita will be the
predecessor. When the Bodhisattva
offers things, protect morals,
patience is procured, efforts starts,
Enters to the attainments, when seen
the Dharmas through the insight,
Prajnaparamita will be the
predecessor for the Bodhisattva and
Middle Path - Sunyata
And the Great being (Mahasattva).
Kausika, when these six Paramitas
are grasped by the skillfulness and
the Prajnaparamita and bending
towards all knowledge these two are
not sepwerate things and there is no
difference between these two).
 In this manner it is mentioned that
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Middle Path - Sunyata
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The Bodhisattva should necessarily
practice the six perfections and in all
these paramitas Prajnaparamita will
be the predecessor.
Why it is said that the Pranaparamita
should become a predecessor? That
is because the selflessness will be
realized by the Prajna. That itself is
the Sunyata.
Midle Path - Sunyata
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“Sunya eva bhagavan sarva dharmas
tathagatenakhyatah. (Lord Buddha,
everything is sunya and this has
been said by the Tathagata). By this
way it has been said that the sunya
is the nature of everything.
The Buddha has explained the
Dharmata (Nature) of everything.
Middle Path - Sunyata
The nature of everything is
inexpressable (anabilapya). (Sa ca
sarvadharmanam dharmata anabhilapya).
 What has been expressed by the
Buddha as Sunya, that is infinite
(Aprameya), that is not decaying
(Aksaya), (Ya ca Subhute sunyam
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Middle Path - Sunya
Aksaya api te).
 If anything is sunya that is
Aprameya. If anything is sunya that
is Aksaya. Here the meaning is not
different.
 The Buddha has expressed Dharmas.
They are aprameya (there is no limit)
Asankheyya (uncountable), Aksaya
Middle Path - Sunyata
(not decaying), Sunya (Empty),
Animitta (Signlessness),Appanihita
(wishlessness) Anabhisankara
(uncondition),Anutpada (un-born).
Ajatha( not produced) Abhava (nonbecoming), Viraga (Absence of desire)
Nirdha (Absence of desire), Nirodha
(Ceasing) Nirvana.
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Middle Path - Sunyata
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But dharmata of all Dharmas are
inexpressable. Why? If there is any
Sunyata that is inexpressable.
(Sarvadharma api subhute
anabhilapyah. Tat kasya hetoh?
Ya ca Subhute sarvadharmanam
Sunyata, na sa sakya abhilapitum).