Mahayan Text: The Heart Sutra
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------Date: Mon, 17 Oct 1994 08:44:41 -0600 To: dharma[email protected] From: [email protected] (Raja Hornstein) Subject: Re: [dharma-talk] Heart Sutra
The version of the heart sutra I posted was the quickest one I could find on the net, but here's the translation I like better for its poetry. It's the one that the San Francisco Zen Center uses. ------
[Halsall Introduction] Mahayana Buddhism developed in many ways. It comprised a series of extremely complex philosophical systems and a huge variety of emotionally compelling ritual activities, all manifest in a number of different sects and scholls. One core teaching is that of "sunyata" or emptiness. This may not seem a very interesting or compelling idea to modern western observers, although there is in fact within Greek philosophy, and Jewish, Christian and Muslim mysticism a similar exhaltation of nothingness. The idea of sunyata was not merely philosophical, though. It has liturgical uses. Here is the Heart Sutra, in a version used at the San Francisco Zen Center, which perhaps gives some indication of the attraction of the idea.
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Great Wisdom Beyond Wisdom Heart Sutra
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, when practicing deeply the Prajna Paramita, perceived that all five skandhas in their own being are empty and was saved from all suffering.
O Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness; emptiness does not differ from form. That which is form is emptiness; that which is emptiness form. The same is true of feelings, perceptions, formations, consciousness.
O Shariputra, all dharmas are marked with emptiness. they do not appear nor disappear, are not tainted nor pure, do not increase nor decrease. Therefore in emptiness: no form, no feelings, no perceptions, no formations, no consciousness; no eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind; no color, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch, no object of mind; no realm of eyes...until no realm of mind-consciousness; no ignorance and also no extinction of it...until no old-age and death and also no extinction of it; no suffering, no origination, no stopping, no path, no cognition, also no attainment with nothing to attain.
A bodhisattva depends on Prajna Paramita and the mind is no hindrance. Without any hindrance no fears exist. Far apart from every perverted view one dwells in nirvana. In the three worlds all buddhas depend on Prajna Paramita and attain unsurpassed complete perfect enlightenment. Therefore, know the Prajna Paramita 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 Prajna Paramita mantra, proclaim the mantra that says:
Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha
All buddhas ten directions three times All beings bodhisattvas mahasattvas Wisdom beyond wisdom Maha Prajna Paramita
Raja Hornstein [email protected] "Save all beings from suffering"
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