Prasangika

Prāsaṅgika is a subschool of Madhyamaka, which asserts that all concrete and mental phenomena, although existing conventionally, are empty of any type of inherent identity or self-characterizing essence. The name is derived from Sanskrit: prasaṅga, a method of logical inquiry of reductio ad absurdum; they point out implicit errors by taking reasonings to logical extremes. Nagarjuna and later commentators such Buddhapālita, Candrakīrti, and Je Tsongkhapa use this method to refute essentialist views.

The Madhyamaka views generally were expounded as commentaries upon the work of Nagarjuna, who wrote about the Prajnaparamita sutras. Buddhapalita was an early adopter of syllogistic methods in his teachings, although of a particularly limited form. He commented upon Nagarjuna's discourses by basing himself on their logical consequences. Bhavaviveka later commented upon and critiqued Buddhapālita's interpretation of Nagarjuna. Candrakirti later responded to Bhāvaviveka's criticisms. His response became regarded as exemplary of the Prasangika approach and view.

When Buddhism was established in Tibet, however, the primary philosophic viewpoint established there was that of Shāntarakshita – a synthesis of Yogācāra and Madhyamaka – in the 9th century. Much later Je Tsongkhapa established Candrakirti's work as primary, and it continues as the main approach to Madhyamaka taught in the Gelug school. Other masters of the various lineages of Tibetan Buddhism also contemplate Prāsaṅgika views but hold different opinions with regard to the best way to describe the experience of emptiness (i.e. Prāsaṅgika, Svātantrika, Chittamātra, and their sub-schools).

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