The Heart Sutra
( 般若波羅蜜多心經 )
( 般若波羅蜜多心經 )
The Prajñāpāramitāhṛdaya Sūtra, commonly known as the Heart Sutra, is one of the most well-known and recited scriptures in Mahayana Buddhism. Below is a common English translation of the Heart Sutra:
The Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva,
when practicing deeply the Prajñāpāramitā,
clearly saw that all five aggregates are empty,
and thus relieved all suffering.
Shariputra, form is emptiness, emptiness is form.
Form is not other than emptiness,
emptiness is not other than form.
The same is true of feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness.
Shariputra, all dharmas are marked with emptiness;
they do not arise or cease,
are not defiled or pure,
do not increase or decrease.
Therefore, in emptiness, there is no form, no feeling, no perception, no volition, no consciousness;
no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind;
no form, sound, smell, taste, touch, or dharmas;
no realm of the eye, up to no realm of mind-consciousness;
no ignorance, and no end of ignorance,
up to no old age and death, and no end of old age and death;
no suffering, no cause of suffering,
no cessation of suffering, and no path;
no wisdom, and no attainment, with nothing to attain.
Because the Bodhisattvas rely on the Prajñāpāramitā,
their minds have no hindrances,
and without any hindrances, no fears exist.
Far apart from every inverted view, they dwell in Nirvana.
In the three worlds, all Buddhas depend on the Prajñāpāramitā,
and attain Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi.
Therefore, know the Prajñāpāramitā
is the great transcendent mantra,
is the great bright mantra,
is the utmost mantra,
is the supreme mantra,
which is able to relieve all suffering,
and is true, not false.
So proclaim the Prajñāpāramitā mantra,
proclaim the mantra that says:
Gate gate pāragate pārasaṃgate bodhi svāhā.
This sutra emphasizes the concept of emptiness (śūnyatā) in Buddhist philosophy, showing that all phenomena are void of inherent existence, which leads to liberation from suffering.
The Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva,
when practicing deeply the Prajñāpāramitā,
clearly saw that all five aggregates are empty,
and thus relieved all suffering.
Shariputra, form is emptiness, emptiness is form.
Form is not other than emptiness,
emptiness is not other than form.
The same is true of feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness.
Shariputra, all dharmas are marked with emptiness;
they do not arise or cease,
are not defiled or pure,
do not increase or decrease.
Therefore, in emptiness, there is no form, no feeling, no perception, no volition, no consciousness;
no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind;
no form, sound, smell, taste, touch, or dharmas;
no realm of the eye, up to no realm of mind-consciousness;
no ignorance, and no end of ignorance,
up to no old age and death, and no end of old age and death;
no suffering, no cause of suffering,
no cessation of suffering, and no path;
no wisdom, and no attainment, with nothing to attain.
Because the Bodhisattvas rely on the Prajñāpāramitā,
their minds have no hindrances,
and without any hindrances, no fears exist.
Far apart from every inverted view, they dwell in Nirvana.
In the three worlds, all Buddhas depend on the Prajñāpāramitā,
and attain Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi.
Therefore, know the Prajñāpāramitā
is the great transcendent mantra,
is the great bright mantra,
is the utmost mantra,
is the supreme mantra,
which is able to relieve all suffering,
and is true, not false.
So proclaim the Prajñāpāramitā mantra,
proclaim the mantra that says:
Gate gate pāragate pārasaṃgate bodhi svāhā.
This sutra emphasizes the concept of emptiness (śūnyatā) in Buddhist philosophy, showing that all phenomena are void of inherent existence, which leads to liberation from suffering.
Download "The Heart Sutra" in PDF format by clicking on the following image.
