Nagarjuna

Nāgārjuna was a Buddhist philosopher and teacher of Indian origin who probably lived in the 2nd century. He laid the foundation for the Middle Way school (Mādhyamaka) and left numerous works on Buddhist philosophy. His central themes included emptiness (śūnyatā), dependent origination, and the doctrine of the two truths. He developed or systematically employed the so-called tetralemma (catuṣkoṭi), a method for questioning extreme philosophical positions. Nāgārjuna is regarded as one of the most influential thinkers in Indian Buddhism and had a lasting impact, particularly on the Vajrayāna and Zen traditions.