8/8/2019 251 the Heart Sutra

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The Buddha speaks the Prajpramit heart sutra

The following is my translation of the Heart Sutra. With the help of Ven. Eijo san, I have corrected my first draft. My original draft had several words whose trans

lations needed a bit of help. Now it should be pretty good.

8/8/2019 251 the Heart Sutra

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The Buddha speaks the Prajpramit heart sutra

When Avalokitesvara bodhisattva1was practicing the deep prajpramit2, [he] clearly saw the five

skandas3are all empty, and was liberated from suffering and hardship.Shariputra4, matter is not different from emptiness. Emptiness is not different from matter. Matter is

emptiness. Emptiness is matter. That is the same with sensation, conception, volition and

consciousness. Shariputra. All dharmas5

are empty of characteristics.No arising, nor extinguishing, not impure, nor pure, not increasing,and not decreasing. For this reason

within emptiness, no matter, no sensation, conception, volition and consciousness, no eyes, ears, nose,

tongue, body or mind, no form, sound, smell, taste, touch or dharma.No visual sphere up to no mind consciousness sphere. No ignorance, also no end to ignorance, up to no

old age and death, also no end to old age and death. No suffering, cause (of suffering), extinction (of

suffering) or path (to cessation of suffering).No knowledge also nothing to achieve because there is no achievement. Therefore, Bodhisattvas rely

on prajpramit, therefore, their hearts have no obscurations. No obscurations therefore, nothing to

fear.

Free from all perverse fantasies, in the end they [attain] Nirvana. All the Buddhas of the past, present

and future, have relied on prajpramit, therefore they aquire anuttarsamyak-sabodhi

6

Therefore, know the perfection of wisdom is the great divine mantra, is the great wisdom mantra, is the

highest mantra, is the mantra with no equal. Removes all suffering, [is] true [and] doesn't fail.Therefore, speak the prajpramit mantra. At once speak the mantra, be pleased to say : gate, gate,

pragate, prasam.gate. bodhi svh!7

Wisdom heart sutra.

1 Avalokitesvara bodhisattva is the bodhisattva of compassion. A bodhisattva is one who is motivated to reach

enlightenment to benefit all sentient beings.

2 Prajnaparamita is a Sanskrit term that means the perfection of wisdom.3 The five Skandas: 1.matter 2.sensation 3.recognition 4.volition 5.consciousness

4 Shariputra is the name of one of Shakyamuni Buddha's disciples.

5 Dharma has many meanings. In this sense it is talking about the phenomenal world.

6 Anuttarasamyaksambodhi is a Sanskrit term that means perfect elnightenment.

7 Gone, gone, gone beyond, gone completely beyond, Awakening, svh!