If all these things are empty [you object]

There’s no arising and there’s no cessation.

What has been relinquished and what ceases

Whereby nirvana, as you claim, occurs?

If all these are not empty

There is no arising, and there is no cessation.

What has been relinquished and what ceases

Whereby nirvana, as you claim, occurs?

No relinquishment and no attainment,

No permanence and no annihilation,

No cessation, no arising—

In these terms has nirvana been described.

-- Nāgārjuna