The Metaphysical Foundation of Buddhism and Modern Science

effect, or bondage and liberation, the nature and the existence of each are
dependent on the other. The one arises with the other and disappears with the
other. This is why a thing arises substantially, neither out of itself, nor out of
another, nor out of both, nor without a cause. There is no fundamental core to
reality; rather reality consists of systems of interacting bodies. This view of
reality is first and foremost an idea; a pointer to reality which cannot be
described in words. One who can speak about concept-free reality has not
experienced it. For the Buddhist tradition based on Nagarjuna, the yogic
experience of substancelessness, the experience of dependent arising, the
direct perception of reality as it is, all presuppose a high level of spiritual
realisation which entails the abandonment of extreme views and the demolition
of the entire edifice of dualistic thought and philosophy. To experience
pratityasamutpada or sunyata means to become free of all entanglements of
this world. Nirvana is simply another expression for this.