Chapter 4.8 - Reality in Madhyamika (g): Middle Way

The dharmadhatu, the ultimate nature of everything is itself the Prajnaparamita, the perfect the complete, immanent in all things. Everything is led to its perfection, in truth, gradual realization of the true nature. In the Sutra 16 of Tathagatapariksha of the Mula-Madhyamika-karika it is written, ‘Whatever is the self-nature of Tathagata that also is the self-nature of the universe.

The Tathagata is devoid of self-nature. Hence, this universe is also devoid of self-nature.

“Tathagato yat svabhavas tatsvabhavam idam jagat,
Tathagato nisvabhavo nisvabhavam idam jagat”^[1]

It declares that the perfection immanent in everything by the delight is called Prajnaparamita, the perfection of the endless, it is comparable to Akasha. Endlessness means limitlessness devoid of division. It is again rightly analyzed the ultimacy of the non-dual dharma. Devoidness means rise above extremes of the two, which is called the middle way, the way of the prajna.

The self-transcendence to the inherent nature by all its virtue and essential relatedness to the eternal is Tathata. Essentially it is the Absolute as its own ground, and intrinsically the profound truth, the dharma. This dharma which dwells in Sarva Karajnata, the knowledge of all forms that is the same as bodhi. Thus, the Bodhisattva realizes all things enter in prajna. That is the real wisdom. From that his activities are directed by this wisdom only. His actions and thought and all are for the entire worlds benefit, not for his own Sake, but for all other sentient beings. Thus, harmony with everything and compassion to all beings in the ultimate ground as Shunyata is the middle way taught by Nagarjuna.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

David J Kalupahana, Mula-Madhyamika-karika of Nagarjuna.