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.


      Í¢Æþ¼Ô: derming@ccvax.sinica.edu.tw