Svabhavashunyata, Svabhāvaśūnyatā, Svabhava-shunyata: 2 definitions
Introduction:
Svabhavashunyata means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Svabhāvaśūnyatā can be transliterated into English as Svabhavasunyata or Svabhavashunyata, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraSvabhāvaśūnyatā (स्वभावशून्यता) or simply Svabhāva refers to the “emptiness of existence itself”, representing one of the emptinesses (śūnyatā), according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XLVIII.
(1) Dharmas arising from a complex of causes and conditions, they have no self existence (svabhāva). As existence itself does not exist, [the Prajñāpāramitāsūtra] speaks here of ‘emptiness of existence itself’ (svabhāvaśūnyatā).
(2) The emptiness of past (atīta) and future (anāgata) dharmas is called emptiness of non-existence (abhāvaśūnyatā, no. 16); the emptiness of present dharmas is called emptiness of existence itself (svabhābaśūnyatā, no. 17). Why? The disappearance (vyaya) and change (anyathātva) of past (atīta) dharmas leads to non-existence (abhāva); future (anāgata) dharmas, the causes and conditions for which have not come together, are without arising, without existence, without exit and without production; this is why they are ‘non-existence’ (abhāva).—As for present (pratyutpanna) dharmas and unconditioned dharmas (asaṃskṛta), by the very fact that they presently exist, they are called ‘existence itself’ (svabhāva).
(3) Conditioned dharmas, having production, duration and disappearance, are called ‘existence itself’ (svabhāva).
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgrahaSvabhāvaśūnyatā (स्वभावशून्यता) or simply svabhāva refers to “emptiness of self-existence” one of the “twenty emptinesses” (śūnyatā) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 41). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., svabhāva-śūnyatā). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Shunyata, Svabhava.
Ends with: Abhavasvabhavashunyata, Bhavasvabhavashunyata.
Full-text: Shunyata, Svabhava, Shodashashunyata.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Svabhavashunyata, Svabhāvaśūnyatā, Svabhava-shunyata, Svabhāva-śūnyatā, Svabhavasunyata, Svabhava-sunyata; (plurals include: Svabhavashunyatas, Svabhāvaśūnyatās, shunyatas, śūnyatās, Svabhavasunyatas, sunyatas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Emptinesses 16 to 18 < [Chapter XLVIII - The Eighteen Emptinesses]
Chapter XLVIII - The Eighteen Emptinesses
3. Characteristics and emptiness of self nature (svabhāvaśūnyatā) < [Part 4 - Understanding identical and multiple natures]
Mahayana Buddhism and Early Advaita Vedanta (Study) (by Asokan N.)
Chapter 4.9 - Reality in Madhyamika (h): Reality and Bodhisattva
Chapter 4.1 - Reality in Madhyamika Philosophy (Introduction)
Reverberations of Dharmakirti’s Philosophy (by Birgit Kellner)