Concluding the Heart of the Perfect Understanding (Prajnaparamita) Sutra is the mantra: Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha. These words can be used as a tool to aid in understanding the rest of the sutra. Strong words with a strong beat, like the beat of a heart. Words to recite, beat along with on a drum, walk to, run with, concentrate on. Loosely translated (keeping the essence and the rythym):
Gone, gone, all gone
Everybody's all gone
To the other side
Hooray!
The Prajnaparamita is about emptiness, but not fear. It's about looking carefully at what we perceive as emptiness, changes, endings and beginnings, about coming to terms with them and, ultimately, embracing them and moving on. Svaha!
About the Heart Sutra
- Heart Sutra on the Wikipedia
- Brief historical and philosophical summary of the sutra.
Links to the Text
- Hannya Shingyo
- Translated by the Stanford Zen Translation Project. Text is annotated for instrumentation during chanting.
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, when deeply practicing prajna paramita, clearly saw that all five aggregates are empty and thus relieved all suffering. - Heart of Wisdom Sutra
- Translated into English from the Tibetan by the Nalanda Translation Committee.
Then, through the power of the Buddha, Venerable Sariputra said to Noble Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva mahasattva, "How should a son or daughter of noble family train, who wishes to practice the profound Prajnaparamita?" - Heart Sutra
- Modern English translation with a somewhat inscrutable introduction.
- Heart Sutra - Herz Sutra
- In Japanese, English, and German translations.
- Heart Sutra - Prajna Paramita Hrydaya Sutra
- Version from Buddhanet with links to line-by-line commentary and a glossary. ''Sariputra, the Characteristics of the
Voidness of All Dharmas
Are Non-Arising, Non-Ceasing, Non-Defiled,
Non-Pure, Non-Increasing, Non-Decreasing.'' - Introduction to the Heart Sutra
- A careful, line-by-line analysis of the Heart Sutra with explanatory notes. ''Therefore, in emptiness, no form, no feelings, perceptions, impulses, consciousness...''
- Mahayan Text: The Heart Sutra
- Version used by the San Francisco Zen Center, with a brief introduction.
''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.'' - The Heart of Prajna Paramita Sutra
- Translation by the Buddhist Text Translation Society
- The Heart of Wisdom
- Parallel Tibetan-English version with Tibetan script. Includes sound clips in Tibetan read by Thubsten Gelek.
''No ignorance; from no cessation of ignorance to no old age and death; including no cessation of old age and death.
Of that nature are also suffering, misery and sin, and cessation. There is no path, no wisdom, no attainment, and no non-attainment.'' - The Heart Sutra
- Andrew May's page with the Heart Sutra as pronounced in Japanese plus a word-by word English translation and commentary. ''no color, sound, smell, taste, touch, dharma''
- The Heart Sutra
- Nice translation from the Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun.
- The Heart Sutra
- An interpretation and simplification of the Heart Sutra by George Boeree, Ph.D.
''Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, meditating deeply on Perfection of Wisdom, saw clearly that the five aspects of human existence are empty, and so released himself from suffering.'' - The Heart Sutra in Buddhist Sanskrit
- With a brief commentary and line-by-line translation.
"deep perfect wisdom action perform luminously"
Great Stuff on Amazon
Essence of the Heart Sutra: The Dalai Lama's Heart of Wisdom Teachings
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/25/2008)
The Heart of Understanding: Commentaries on the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra
This little volume holds a wonderful translation and explanation of the Heart Sutra. A good place to start learning about the sutra and Buddhism in general.
Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 07/25/2008)
Little Buddha
The Heart Sutra plays an interesting role in this movie -- watch for its big scene toward the end!
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 07/25/2008)
Heart Sutra Stuff from CafePress
Heart Sutra Things on eBay
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