- The Heart of Prajna Paramita Sutra
- Copyright © 1997 Buddhist Text
Translation Society
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When Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara was
practicing the profound Prajna Paramita, he illuminated the Five Skandhas
and saw that they are all empty, and he crossed beyond all suffering and difficulty.
Shariputra, form does not differ from
emptiness; emptiness does not differ from form. Form itself is emptiness; emptiness itself
is form. So too are feeling, cognition, formation, and consciousness.
Shariputra, all Dharmas are empty of
characteristics. They are not produced, not destroyed, not defiled, not pure; and they
neither increase nor diminish. Therefore, in emptiness there is no form, feeling,
cognition, formation, or consciousness; no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no
sights, sounds, smells, tastes, objects of touch, or Dharmas; no field of the eyes up to
and including no field of mind consciousness; and no ignorance or ending of ignorance, up
to and including no old age and death or ending of old age and death. There is no
suffering, no accumulating, no extinction, and no Way, and no understanding and no
attaining.
Because nothing is attained, the
Bodhisattva through reliance on Prajna Paramita is unimpeded in his mind. Because
there is no impediment, he is not afraid, and he leaves distorted dream-thinking far
behind. Ultimately Nirvana! All Buddhas of the three periods of time attain Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi
through reliance on Prajna Paramita. Therefore know that Prajna Paramita is
a Great Spiritual Mantra, a Great Bright Mantra, a Supreme Mantra, an Unequalled Mantra.
It can remove all suffering; it is genuine and not false. That is why the Mantra of Prajna
Paramita was spoken. Recite it like this:
Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi
Svaha!