heart sutra
When Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara
Was profoundly practicing the Heart Sutra,
He noticed that the Five skandhas are naturally empty,
And passed beyond confusion and suffering.
The Heart Sutra is called the Heart Sutra not because it is warm and friendly but because it sums up the core of the Prajna Paramita Sutra (the Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra). It saves having to read the complete sutra (thousands of lines) or all of the myriad sutras (a lifetime's task). It contains all that is needed.
If the Heart Sutra doesn't work then there is the rather longer Diamond Sutra. It is called the Diamond Sutra not because it is valuable but because it is hard and cuts through ignorance.
Failing that there are all the Sutras and if not them then the miles and miles of commentaries and failing that there are millions of tons of statues, incense, ceremonies, retreats, and indulgences or as a very very last resort ..... rebirth
You can read the following introduction to the Heart Sutra addressed to Sariputra by the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara if you want:
Oh Sariputra, I saw that
Form and emptiness are not different;
Emptiness is not different from form.
Form is emptiness; emptiness is form.
Likewise feelings, thoughts, intentions, and consciousness.
Oh Sariputra all things are empty.
They are not made, not destroyed, not impure, not pure, not growing, not shrinking.
So Sariputra, in emptiness
There is no form, no feeling, no thought, no intention, no consciousness;
No eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind;
No form, sounds, smells, tastes, objects of touch, or truths;
No realm of the eyes including no realm of consciousness;
No clarity, no clarity, no loss of clarity, no loss of clarity;
No old age or end of old age;
No suffering, or end of suffering;
No knowledge, no attaining, no noticing, nothing to attain.
So the Bodhisattva lives in perfect wisdom
He has no obstruction, loss of clarity, or lack of loss of clarity
No old age or end of old age.
No suffering, or end of suffering,
No knowledge, no attaining, nothing to notice, nothing to attain.
So the bodhisattva through the Heart Sutra
Harbouring no obstacles of distortion or imagination
Lives without fear, fright or turmoil.
Perfect nirvana is experienced by the past, present, and future
Buddhas using the Heart Sutra
Existing in unexcelled ultimate enlightenment
Therefore understand that,
The great Heart Sutra mantra, the illuminating mantra
Is the supreme mantra, the unequalled mantra
All suffering stops. Finishes. It is genuine and not false.
The Heart Sutra is said like this:
Gaté Gaté Paragaté Parasamgaté
Bodhi
Svaha!
Gone, gone, completely gone, completely and utterly gone,
enlightened,
thats it!
copyright (C) John Brasted 2008
updated 11/06/11
