One of the core teachings of
Mahayana Buddhism. It describes an exchange between
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva and
Shariputra, one of the
Buddha's most senior
disciples, which attempts to encapsulate the central idea of emptiness and form...
- Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, practicing deep Pranja Paramita
- clearly saw that all five skandhas are empty, transforming all suffering and distress.
- Shariputra, form is no other than emptiness, emptiness no other than form;
- form is exactly emptiness, emptiness exactly form;
- sensation, perception, mental reaction, consciousness are also like this.
- Shariputra, all things are essentially empty--not born, not destroyed
- not stained, not pure, without loss, without gain,
- Therefore in emptiness there is no form, no sensation, perception, mental reaction, consciousness;
- no eye, ear, nose, tounge, body, mind;
- no color, sound, smell, taste, touch, object of thought;
- no seeing and so on to no thinking;
- no ignorance and also no ending of ignorance,
- and so on to no old age and death, and also no ending
- of old age and death;
- no suffering, cause of suffering, cessation, path;
- no wisdom and no attainment. Since there is nothing to attain,
- the bodhisattva lives by Prajna Paramita,
- with no hindrance in the mind; no hindrance and therefore no fear,
- far beyond delusive thinking, right here is Nirvana.
- All Buddhas of past, present and future live by Prajna Paramita,
- attaining Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.
- Therefore know that Prajna Paramita
- is the great sacred mantra, the supreme mantra,
- which completely removes all suffering. This is truth not mere formality.
- Therefore set forth the Prajna Paramita mantra.
- Set forth this mantra and proclaim:
- Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate
- Bodhi Svaha!