HEART SUTRA MANTRA (Sanskrit)

THE HEART OF PERFECT WISDOM SUTRA 

( Prajna Paramita Hridaya Sutra )

The Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, from the deep course of Prajna wisdom, saw clearly that all five skandhas were empty, thus sundered all bonds of suffering.

Sariputra, know then: form does not differ from emptiness, nor does emptiness differ from form. Form is no other than emptiness, emptiness no other than form. The same is true of feelings, perceptions, impulses and consciousness.

Sariputra, all dharmas are marked with emptiness. None are born or die, nor are they defiled or immaculate, nor do they wax or wane. Therefore, where there is emptiness, there is no form, no feeling, no perception, no impulse, nor is there consciousness. No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind. No color, sound, smell, taste, touch, or object of mind. There is no domain of sight, nor even domain of mind consciousness. There is no ignorance nor is there ceasing of ignorance. There is no withering, no death, nor is there ceasing of withering and death. There is no suffering, or cause of suffering, or cease in suffering, or path to lead from suffering. There is no cognition, nor even attainment.

So know that the Bodhisattva, indifferent to any kind of attainment whatsoever but dwelling in Prajna wisdom, is freed of any thought covering, get rid of the fear bred by it, has overcome what can upset and in the end reaches utmost Nirvana. All Buddhas of past and present, and Buddhas of future time, through faith in Prajna wisdom, come to full and perfect Enlightenment.

Therefore, one should know the Prajna paramita as the mantra of great knowledge, the miraculous, the utmost, the unequalled mantra, whose words relieve all suffering. This is highest wisdom, true beyond all doubt.

Know then and proclaim the Prajna paramita mantra. It spells like this:

      Gate, gate, paragate, parasamgate, bodhi svaha! 

      ( Gone, gone, gone beyond, gone altogether beyond, Bodhi, rejoice! )

THE HEART SUTRA

The Bodhisattva of Compassion,
when he meditated deeply,
saw the emptiness of all five skandhas
and sundered the bonds that caused him suffering.

Here then,
form is no other than emptiness,
emptiness no other than form.

Form is only emptiness,
emptiness only form.
Feeling, thought and choice,
consciousness itself,
are the same as this.

All things are the primal void,
which is not born or destroyed,
nor is it stained or pure,
nor does it wax or wane.

So, in emptiness, no form,
no feeling, thought or choice,
nor is there consciousness.
No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind.
No colour, sound, smell,
taste, touch or what the mind takes hold of,
nor even act of sensing.

No ignorance nor all that comes of it,
no withering, no death,
no end of them.

Nor is there pain, or cause of pain,
or cease in pain,
or noble path to lead from pain,
nor even wisdom to attain.
Attainment too is emptiness!

So know that the Bodhisattva,
holding to nothing whatever
but dwelling in prajna wisdom,
is freed from delusive hindrance,
rid of the fears bred by it,
and reaches clearest Nirvana.

All Buddhas of past and present,
Buddhas of future time,
Using this prajna wisdom
Attain full and perfect enlightenment.

Hear then the great dharani,
the radiant peerless mantra,
the prajnaparamita
whose words allay all pain,
hear and believe its truth!

Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha