Rang dong
(
rang.stong
, ‘Emptiness of Self’). The central doctrine of
Pr
sa
gika
M
dhyamaka
, the doctrine that all objects are empty of inherent existence. It is a statement about ultimate truth (
param
rtha satya
) from which standpoint the folly of conventional truth (
sa
rti satya
—that objects do have inherent existence) is realized. The doctrine of rang dong, held chiefly by the
Geluk
who assert it to be the teaching of
N
g
rjuna
, requires that only Pr
sa
gika logic can cut through the apparent distinction, and that only in Buddhahood can form and emptiness be simultaneously comprehended.