The Heart Sutra
The Heart Sutra is the most beloved sutra in the Buddhist canon. Many, many Buddhists chant it every morning in one translation or another. It’s a good way to start the day. Below is a version which you are likely to hear at an English-speaking Soto Zen Temple.
Avalokiteshvara, Bodhisattva
Doing deep Prajna Paramita, clearly saw emptiness of all the five conditions.
Oh, Shariputra, form is not other than emptiness; emptiness no other than form.
Form is exactly emptiness; emptiness exactly form.
Sensation, conception, discrimination, awareness are likewise like this.
Oh, Shariputra, all dharmas are forms of emptiness,
not born, not destroyed, not stained, not pure, without loss, without gain.
So, in emptiness there is no form, no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind..
No color, sound, smell, taste, touch phenomena.
No realm of sight, no realm of consciousness.
No ignorance and no end to ignorance.
No old age and death and no end to old age and death,
No suffering. No cause of suffering.
No extinguishing, no path, no wisdom and no gain.
No gain – and thus the Bodhishattva lives, Prajna Paramita, with no hindrance in the mind.
No hindrance, therefore no fear.
Far beyond deluded thoughts – this is Nirvana.
All past, present and future Buddhas live, Prajna Paramita, and therefore attain Anutarra Samyak Sambodhi,,
Therefore, know Prajna Paramita is the great Mantra, the best Mantra, the vivid Mantra.
It completely clears all pain.
This is the truth, not a lie.
So set forth the Prajna Paramita Mantra, set forth this Mantra and say…
Gate, Gate, Parasangata!
Bodhi Svaha, Prajna Heart Sutra
