Buddhapalita Quotes
Buddhapalita was an Indian Buddhist Madhyamaka philosopher of the late fifth and early sixth century, traditionally counted, with Bhaviveka and Candrakirti, as one of the three principal commentators on Nagarjuna's middle-way philosophy. His Mulamadhyamakavrtti commentary on Nagarjuna defended the Madhyamika method of refuting opponents by drawing out the absurd consequences of their own views without committing the Madhyamika to any positive thesis. The quotes below are attributed to Buddhapalita, organized by topic.
Buddhapalita on Knowledge
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Attributed to Buddhapalita:
“Refutation by absurdity is not silence; it is the most articulate form of teaching.”
Buddhapalita on Nature
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Attributed to Buddhapalita:
“Things do not arise from themselves, from another, from both, or from neither.”
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Attributed to Buddhapalita:
“What dependently arises is what is empty; what is empty is the path.”
Buddhapalita on Truth
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Attributed to Buddhapalita:
“The Madhyamika has no thesis of his own; he draws out only the consequences of others.”
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Attributed to Buddhapalita:
“Emptiness is not a doctrine to be defended; it is the dissolving of every doctrine.”