Buddhism

===Not-Self and Emptiness===
{{Main|Anātman|Śūnyatā}}
{{PancaKhandha}}
A related doctrine in Buddhism is that of ''anattā'' (Pali) or ''anātman'' (Sanskrit). It is the view that there is no unchanging, permanent self, soul or essence in phenomena.{{sfnp|Gombrich|2006|p=47}} The Buddha and Buddhist philosophers who follow him such as Vasubandhu and Buddhaghosa, generally argue for this view by analyzing the person through the schema of the [[five aggregates]], and then attempting to show that none of these five components of personality can be permanent or absolute.<ref>Siderits, Mark (2007). ''"Buddhism as philosophy,"'' p. 39</ref> This can be seen in Buddhist discourses such as the ''[[Anattalakkhana Sutta]]''.

"Emptiness" or "voidness" (Skt'': Śūnyatā'', Pali: ''Suññatā)'', is a related concept with many different interpretations throughout the various Buddhisms. In early Buddhism, it was commonly stated that all five aggregates are void (''rittaka''), hollow (''tucchaka''), coreless (''asāraka''), for example as in the ''Pheṇapiṇḍūpama Sutta'' (SN 22:95).<ref>Shi Huifeng, ''Is "Illusion" a Prajñāpāramitā Creation? The Birth and Death of a Buddhist Cognitive Metaphor'', Fo Guang University, Journal of Buddhist Philosophy, Vol.2, 2016.</ref> Similarly, in Theravada Buddhism, it often means that the five aggregates are empty of a Self.<ref>Ronkin, Noa (2005). ''"Early Buddhist Metaphysics: The Making of a Philosophical Tradition"'' p. 91. RoutledgeCurzon.</ref>

Emptiness is a central concept in Mahāyāna Buddhism, especially in [[Nagarjuna]]'s [[Madhyamaka]] school, and in the ''[[Prajnaparamita|Prajñāpāramitā]] sutras''. In Madhyamaka philosophy, emptiness is the view which holds that all phenomena are without any ''[[svabhava]]'' (literally "own-nature" or "self-nature"), and are thus without any underlying essence, and so are "empty" of being independent.{{example needed|date=March 2024}} This doctrine sought to refute the heterodox theories of ''svabhava'' circulating at the time.{{sfnp|Lindtner|1997|p=324}}