Buddhapālita ［仏護］ (c. 470–540) (;  Butsugo): The founder of the Prāsangika school of Mādhyamika philosophy in India. In the sixth century, Buddhapālita and his contemporary, Bhāvaviveka, wrote commentaries on Nāgārjuna’s Verses on the Middle Way ( Madhyamaka-kārikā). Differences in their approach and explanation of the truth of non-substantiality resulted in the division of the Mādhyamika school into the Prāsangika school led by Buddhapālita and the Svātantrika school led by Bhāvaviveka. The Prāsangika school was continued by Chandrakīrti. The Sanskrit original of Buddhapālita’s commentary on Verses on the Middle Way is not extant, but a Tibetan translation exists. See also Bhāvaviveka.