What does emptiness mean in Mahayana Buddhist thought?

In Mahayana Buddhism, emptiness—or shunyata—is the fundamental nature of reality, signifying that all phenomena are devoid of intrinsic existence, or svabhava.123

Rather than implying nihilism or the non-existence of things, emptiness describes the absence of an autonomous, permanent, or independent essence. This concept is deeply rooted in the doctrine of dependent origination (pratitya-samutpada), which holds that all things arise in dependence on causes and conditions. Because nothing exists in isolation, everything is considered "empty" of a self-nature.423

The 2nd-century philosopher Nagarjuna articulated this through the "Middle Way," distinguishing between two truths:
* Conventional truth: How we perceive the world in daily life, where things appear to have distinct identities.2
* Ultimate truth: The realization that all entities are ultimately empty of intrinsic nature.2

For the bodhisattva, understanding this emptiness is essential to wisdom. By realizing that neither persons nor things possess a permanent "self," the bodhisattva transcends the distinction between self and others, fostering a path of selfless compassion.23