Have you ever read a saying from the Buddha that seemed to contradict itself—and yet felt strangely true?
Statements like “Form is emptiness, emptiness is form,” or “You must strive diligently, yet let go of all striving,” can seem bewildering at first glance. But these paradoxes are not mistakes or riddles—they are intentional tools for awakening.
The Buddha often taught in ways that invited the listener to go beyond ordinary logic. His paradoxical sayings are designed to stretch the mind, crack open fixed views, and invite us into deeper insight.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the most intriguing paradoxes in the Buddha’s words—what they mean, how they function, and why they still speak to us today.
We’ll reflect on:
- Why paradox is a central method in Buddhist wisdom
- What certain famous paradoxical sayings really point to
- How these teachings guide us in real life, not just in theory
Let’s begin by examining how paradoxes work as spiritual doorways.
The Purpose of Paradox in Buddhist Teaching
Going Beyond the Conceptual Mind
Buddhism does not aim to fill your mind with ideas. Instead, it aims to liberate you from clinging to any ideas—even Buddhist ones.
That’s why the Buddha often used paradox to challenge rigid thinking.
“Those who cling to views go around the world annoying people.” — Sutta Nipāta
By presenting teachings that appear contradictory, the Buddha guides us into the space between concepts—a space where direct experience and intuitive wisdom can emerge. In this way, paradox serves to:
- Dissolve dualistic thinking (self vs. other, good vs. bad)
- Point beyond language, toward silence and insight
- Help practitioners loosen their grasp on fixed mental patterns
Just like a koan in Zen (“What is the sound of one hand clapping?”), a paradox doesn’t have a neat solution. Instead, it opens the mind.
Not Logic, but Liberation
These contradictions are not errors to be resolved, but gates to be passed through. The Buddha wasn’t trying to confuse people—he was helping them see.
As the great Zen master Dōgen said, “To study the Buddha Way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self.”
Forgetting the self can’t be reasoned into—it’s experienced through letting go. And sometimes, letting go only happens when our normal ways of grasping no longer work.
Paradoxical Sayings of the Buddha: Deep Dives
Let’s explore some powerful paradoxes in the Buddha’s teachings, and unpack their hidden wisdom.
1. “Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.” — Heart Sutra
This is one of the most famous Buddhist paradoxes. On the surface, it seems to negate itself. How can form (the material world) be emptiness (void, non-substantial), and vice versa?
Meaning:
This teaching from the Mahayana tradition points to the non-duality of appearance and essence. What we call “form” is not separate from the reality of impermanence and interdependence—what we call “emptiness.”
- Form appears, but it has no fixed, independent essence.
- Emptiness isn’t a void somewhere else; it is the nature of all forms.
Everyday insight:
When we cling to appearances—beauty, status, identity—we suffer. When we see their empty nature, we gain freedom, even in the midst of form.
2. “You must strive diligently… yet let go of all striving.” — Paraphrase of various Suttas
This paradox is felt deeply by many practitioners. Buddhism teaches right effort, yet it also urges us to abandon all grasping. So how do we both strive and surrender?
Meaning:
Effort in Buddhism is not the same as striving fueled by ego or anxiety. True effort is wholehearted presence—dedicated, yet unattached.
Letting go of striving means we don’t seek enlightenment as a trophy, but as the natural unfolding of awareness.
Everyday insight:
Apply effort in your practice—but don’t turn it into a struggle. Meditate not to “achieve,” but to return. Be sincere, but not desperate.
3. “There is no self, and yet we practice compassion.” — Based on Anattā doctrine
If there is no fixed, independent self, who practices compassion? Who suffers? This paradox is at the core of many people’s confusion about Buddhist ethics.
Meaning:
The Buddha taught that what we call “self” is a process, not a thing. Yet within this dynamic flow, suffering is real, and kindness matters.
Compassion arises because we are not isolated beings. We are interwoven, and thus naturally moved to care.
Everyday insight:
You don’t need a fixed identity to feel connected. Compassion doesn’t depend on ego—it springs from understanding our shared nature.
4. “The Buddha taught no doctrine.” — Often attributed to Zen interpretations
If Buddhism is full of teachings, how can it also say the Buddha taught no doctrine?
Meaning:
The essence of the Buddha’s teaching is not in the words, but in the transformation they point to. Teachings are skillful means—not ultimate truths.
The moment we cling to a doctrine, we lose the freedom it was meant to offer.
Everyday insight:
Let teachings be guides, not cages. Don’t argue over who’s right—live the insight, embody the truth, and let go when needed.
5. “Samsara is nirvana.” — Mahāyāna Buddhism
Another famous paradox that seems to say the cycle of suffering is liberation. How can that be?
Meaning:
Samsara (cyclic existence) and nirvana (liberation) are not two separate worlds—they are two ways of seeing.
When seen through clinging, the world is samsara. When seen through wisdom, the very same world is nirvana.
Everyday insight:
You don’t have to escape the world—you can awaken within it. The key is not where you are, but how you see.
Why Paradox Still Matters in Modern Life
Even today, these paradoxes carry great relevance. In a world of binary thinking, quick judgments, and polarized views, paradox reminds us:
- Not everything has a simple answer
- Wisdom often means holding two truths at once
- Letting go can be more powerful than pushing forward
Whether you’re dealing with a difficult emotion, a complex relationship, or a spiritual block, Buddhist paradoxes can loosen the grip of ego and open a space for presence.
They whisper:
“You don’t have to fix this. You only have to see clearly.”
“You are not what you think. And yet, your thoughts can be seen with love.”
Buddhist Roots: Paradox in the Suttas and Beyond
The use of paradox isn’t just a Zen twist—it goes back to early Buddhist scriptures.
- In the Pāli Canon, the Buddha frequently rejects absolute positions: “Both views are wrong—eternalism and nihilism.”
- In the Madhyamaka school, Nāgārjuna used paradox to demonstrate that all phenomena are empty of inherent existence—including emptiness itself.
- In Zen, paradox evolved into koan practice, where logical dead ends are used to trigger awakening.
All these expressions return to the same point: truth cannot be captured in concepts. But it can be realized in silence, in practice, in presence.
Reflection: Living with the Unresolvable
The point of paradox is not to frustrate, but to free.
What if you could sit calmly with contradiction? What if not knowing could be a doorway, not a dead end?
Try this:
- Contemplate a paradox that speaks to you (e.g., “Let go of striving”).
- Journal: Where do I force things in life? What would soft effort look like?
- Practice: Next time you’re caught in conflict, pause and ask: “Can both views have truth?”
Let paradox be your teacher—not by solving it, but by allowing it to stretch your mind and soften your heart.
Sit with This Wisdom
Buddhist paradoxes don’t offer tidy answers—but they offer something far more valuable: a way to wake up.
When we stop trying to grasp truth like a possession, we begin to experience it as presence. In that space, contradictions dissolve—not because they’re resolved, but because we are transformed.
As the Buddha said:
“In seeing, there is just the seen; in hearing, just the heard. Let there be no one behind it.”
Not all mysteries are meant to be solved. Some are meant to be lived.
Leave a Comment