Public Dharma glossary

Śūnyatā

Pronunciation: SHOON-yuh-taa

Canonical definition: In Mahāyāna study, the absence of intrinsic, independent existence in phenomena.

Morphological structure

śūnya (empty, open) + -tā (state or quality): emptiness.

Canonical usage

In Mahāyāna study, the absence of intrinsic, independent existence in phenomena.

Common misunderstanding

Emptiness is not annihilation, a hidden substance, or the claim that nothing matters.

Practical significance

Because things are dependently arisen, they are workable and ethically consequential.

Source anchor

Prajñāpāramitā literature; MMK

Continue with established sources

Further reading

Open complete translations and specialist reference material for deeper study.

  • Nāgārjuna
    Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy · Jan Westerhoff

    Explore a scholarly overview of emptiness, intrinsic nature, causation, and Nāgārjuna’s philosophical method.