Sutra of the Heart of Prajnaparamita

Thus I have heard. Once the Blessed One was

dwelling in Rajagriha at Vulture Peak

mountain, together with a great gathering of

the sangha of monks and the sangha of

bodhisattvas. At that time the Blessed One

entered the samadhi that examines the dharma

called "profound illumination." At the same

time noble Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva

mahasattva, contemplating the profound

practice of the Prajnaparamita saw the five

skandhas to be empty in nature. Then, through

the power of the Buddha, venerable Shariputra

said this to noble Avalokiteshvara, the

bodhisattva mahasattva, "How should a son or

daughter of noble qualities who wishes to

practice the profound Prajnaparamita train?"

Addressed in this way, Noble Avalokiteshvara,

the bodhisattva mahasattva, replied to

venerable Shariputra: "O Shariputra, a son or

daughter of noble qualities who wishes to

practice the profound Prajnaparamita should

regard things in the following way: The five

skandhas should be seen to be completely

empty in nature. Form is emptiness. Emptiness

is form. Form is none other than emptiness.

Emptiness is none other than form. In this

same way feeling, perception, Mental

formation, and consciousness are empty. Thus,

Shariputra are all dharmas emptiness. They

have no characteristics. They are unborn and

unceasing; neither impure nor free from

impurity. They neither decrease nor increase.

Therefore, Shariputra, emptiness has no form,

no feeling, no perception, no mental

formations, no consciousness, no eye, no ear,

no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind, no

appearance, no sound, no smell, no taste, no

touch, no dharmas; no eye element...no mind

element, and no mind consciousness element;

no ignorance, no end of ignorance... no old

age and death, and no end of old age and

death. Likewise, there is no suffering, no

origin of suffering, no cessation of

suffering, no path, no wisdom, no attainment,

and no non-attainment. Therefore, Shariputra,

since bodhisattvas have nothing to attain

they abide in reliance upon Prajnaparamita.

Without obscurations of mind, they have no

fear. Completely transcending false views

They go to the ultimate of nirvana. All the

buddhas of the three times by relying on the

Prajnaparamita awaken completely to the

perfect, unsurpassable enlightenment.

Therefore, the mantra of Prajnaparamita is

the mantra of great awareness; it is the

unsurpassed mantra, the mantra that equalizes

whatever is unequal, and the mantra that

totally pacifies all suffereing. Since it

does not deceive, it should be known as

truth. The Prajnaparamita mantra is uttered

thus:

TADYATHA  OM GA TE GA TE PA RA GA TE PA RA

SAM GA TE BODHI SVA HA

Shariputra, it is in this way that

bodhisattva mahasattvas should train in the

profound Prajnaparamita." Then the Blessed

One arose from that samadhi and praised the

noble Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva

mahasattva, saying: "Good, good, oh son of

noble qualities! thus it is! Thus it is!

Exactly as you have taught it one should

practice the profound Prajnaparamita and all

the Tathagatas will rejoice." When the

Blessed One spoke these words, Venerable

Shariputra and noble Avalokiteshvara, the

bodhisattva mahasattva, together with the

whole assembly and the world with its Gods,

humans, asuras and gandharvas all rejoiced,

praising what the Blessed One had said.

輸入者: derming@ccvax.sinica.edu.tw