Have you ever experienced a piece of music that moves you to tears? For me, it was the first time I heard the Heart Sutra. As the sound washed over me, I found myself weeping uncontrollably, as if I were a newborn crying upon entering the world. Even though I don’t understand a word.
It was a strange feeling, as if I was simultaneously experiencing the sorrow of being reborn into samsara and the joy of being granted the opportunity to explore the depths of philosophical knowledge as a human being. Even now, I can’t fully explain why the Heart Sutra chant affected me so deeply, but I know that I was overwhelmed with a sense of peace and happiness despite my tears. If you’re looking for a profound and moving experience, I highly recommend exploring the Heart Sutra.
The Heart Sutra, also known as Prajnaparamita Hridaya Sutra, is a revered text in Mahayana Buddhism that offers profound insights into the nature of reality and the human experience. It is said that even a single recitation of this sutra can bring about profound transformations in one’s life.
Many who have delved into the Heart Sutra’s teachings have reported experiencing a sense of deep inner peace, clarity, and freedom from mental and emotional burdens. Its teachings center around the concept of “Emptiness,” which is often misunderstood as a nihilistic view of reality.
However, the Heart Sutra offers a nuanced understanding of emptiness as the interdependent nature of all phenomena, revealing the interconnectedness of everything in the universe. It is truly a profound and transformative text that has the power to touch the hearts of all who encounter it.
Origin of the Heart Sutra
The Heart Sutra is a prominent Buddhist text that is widely recited and studied in many Buddhist traditions, particularly in Mahayana Buddhism. It is considered to be one of the most concise and profound expressions of the Prajnaparamita teachings, which emphasize the ultimate nature of reality and the path to enlightenment.
The origin of the Heart Sutra is not entirely clear, and there are different theories about its authorship and historical context. According to traditional accounts, the Heart Sutra was first taught by the Buddha himself to his disciple Sariputra, who is depicted in the sutra as the interlocutor. However, scholars generally agree that the sutra was composed several centuries after the Buddha’s lifetime, most likely in India between the 1st and 5th centuries CE.
The Heart Sutra is part of the larger Prajnaparamita literature, which includes numerous other sutras of varying length and complexity. The Prajnaparamita teachings are associated with the Madhyamaka school of Mahayana Buddhism, which emphasizes the emptiness or ultimate reality of all phenomena. The Heart Sutra is regarded as a concise distillation of the Prajnaparamita teachings, presenting the key insights and practices necessary for attaining enlightenment.
One theory about the origin of the Heart Sutra suggests that it was composed by the Indian Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna, who lived in the 2nd century CE and is considered one of the most influential figures in Mahayana Buddhism. According to this theory, the Heart Sutra represents Nagarjuna’s attempt to summarize the Prajnaparamita teachings in a concise and accessible form.
Another theory suggests that the Heart Sutra was composed by the Chinese monk Xuanzang, who lived in the 7th century CE and is famous for his travels to India to study Buddhism. According to this theory, Xuanzang translated the Heart Sutra from an Indian source text and added his own commentary, which was subsequently lost.
Regardless of its authorship, the Heart Sutra has had a profound impact on Buddhist thought and practice, inspiring generations of practitioners to deepen their understanding of the nature of reality and the path to enlightenment. Its concise and poetic language, coupled with its profound philosophical insights, have made it a beloved and widely studied text in many Buddhist traditions.
Lyrics of Heart Sutra
The Heart Sutra in Sanskrit (prajñāpāramita-hṛdayam sūtra)
oṃ namo bhagavatyai ārya prajñāpāramitāyai!
ārya-avalokiteśvaro bodhisattvo gambhīrāṃ prajñāpāramitā caryāṃ caramāṇo vyavalokayati sma:
panca-skandhās tāṃś ca svābhava śūnyān paśyati sma.
iha śāriputra: rūpaṃ śūnyatā śūnyataiva rūpaṃ; rūpān na pṛthak śūnyatā śunyatāyā na pṛthag rūpaṃ; yad rūpaṃ sā śūnyatā; ya śūnyatā tad rūpaṃ. evam eva vedanā saṃjñā saṃskāra vijñānaṃ.
iha śāriputra: sarva-dharmāḥ śūnyatā-lakṣaṇā, anutpannā aniruddhā, amalā avimalā, anūnā aparipūrṇāḥ.
tasmāc chāriputra śūnyatayāṃ na rūpaṃ na vedanā na saṃjñā na saṃskārāḥ na vijñānam. na cakṣuḥ-śrotra-ghrāna-jihvā-kāya-manāṃsi. na rūpa-śabda-gandha-rasa-spraṣṭavaya-dharmāh. Na cakṣūr-dhātur. yāvan na manovijñāna-dhātuḥ. na-avidyā na-avidyā-kṣayo. yāvan na jarā-maraṇam na jarā-maraṇa-kṣayo. na duhkha-samudaya-nirodha-margā. Na jñānam, na prāptir na-aprāptiḥ.
tasmāc chāriputra aprāptitvād bodhisattvasya prajñāpāramitām āśritya viharatyacittāvaraṇaḥ. cittāvaraṇa-nāstitvād atrastro viparyāsa-atikrānto niṣṭhā-nirvāṇa-prāptaḥ.
tryadhva-vyavasthitāḥ sarva-buddhāḥ prajñāpāramitām āśrityā-anuttarāṃ samyaksambodhim abhisambuddhāḥ.
tasmāj jñātavyam: prajñāpāramitā mahā-mantro mahā-vidyā mantro ‘nuttara-mantro samasama-mantraḥ, sarva duḥkha praśamanaḥ, satyam amithyatāt. prajñāpāramitāyām ukto mantraḥ.
tadyathā: gate gate pāragate pārasaṃgate bodhi svāhā.
iti prajñāpāramitā-hṛdayam samāptam.
The Heart Sutra in English (Version of Thich Nhat Hanh) – The Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore
Avalokiteshvara
while practicing deeply with
the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore,
suddenly discovered that
all of the five Skandhas are equally empty,
and with this realisation
he overcame all Ill-being.
“Listen Sariputra,
this Body itself is Emptiness
and Emptiness itself is this Body.
This Body is not other than Emptiness
and Emptiness is not other than this Body.
The same is true of Feelings,
Perceptions, Mental Formations,
and Consciousness.
“Listen Sariputra,
all phenomena bear the mark of Emptiness;
their true nature is the nature of
no Birth no Death,
no Being no Non-being,
no Defilement no Purity,
no Increasing no Decreasing.
“That is why in Emptiness,
Body, Feelings, Perceptions,
Mental Formations and Consciousness
are not separate self entities.
The Eighteen Realms of Phenomena
which are the six Sense Organs,
the six Sense Objects,
and the six Consciousnesses
are also not separate self entities.
The Twelve Links of Interdependent Arising
and their Extinction
are also not separate self entities.
Ill-being, the Causes of Ill-being,
the End of Ill-being, the Path,
insight and attainment,
are also not separate self entities.
Whoever can see this
no longer needs anything to attain.
Bodhisattvas who practice
the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore
see no more obstacles in their mind,
and because there
are no more obstacles in their mind,
they can overcome all fear,
destroy all wrong perceptions
and realize Perfect Nirvana.
“All Buddhas in the past, present and future
by practicing
the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore
are all capable of attaining
Authentic and Perfect Enlightenment.
“Therefore Sariputra,
it should be known that
the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore
is a Great Mantra,
the most illuminating mantra,
the highest mantra,
a mantra beyond compare,
the True Wisdom that has the power
to put an end to all kinds of suffering.
Therefore let us proclaim
a mantra to praise
the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore.
Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha!
Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha!
Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha!”
Meaning of the Heart Sutra
The Heart Sutra is named after its central theme, which is the realization of prajna or wisdom that leads to the “heart” or core of the Buddhist teachings.
The Heart Sutra teaches that all phenomena, including the five aggregates that make up a person, are empty of inherent existence or self-nature. This emptiness is not a negative or nihilistic concept, but rather a profound insight into the nature of reality that is essential for attaining enlightenment. By understanding the emptiness of all phenomena, we can see through the illusions and delusions that cause suffering and realize the true nature of reality.
The sutra also teaches the concept of “Form is Emptiness and Emptiness is Form“, which means that the emptiness of all phenomena is not separate from their appearance or form. This means that emptiness and form are not two separate things, but rather two sides of the same coin. By seeing the emptiness of form and the form of emptiness, we can break through the dualistic thinking that perpetuates suffering and attain a direct realization of ultimate reality.
In addition to these teachings, the Heart Sutra also emphasizes the importance of compassion and skillful means in the path to enlightenment.
In Mahayana Buddhism, compassion is often discussed from the perspectives of absolute and relative. Absolute compassion is compassion in the light of Emptiness: all beings are empty. All beings, by virtue of their emptiness, are liberated and pure. As the Heart Sutra says, suffering is empty, and liberation from suffering is also empty.
Absolute compassion enables us to support and help beings without any discrimination. Relative compassion is based on our broad view of the empty nature of life, in the context of the relationship between the heart and engagement. It is impossible in and of itself, but both absolute and relative together create a wonderful and sustainable connection in life.
The Heart Sutra conveys the essence of the heart, of what is called “The Perfection of Wisdom or Deep Insight”. It is not complicated and does not give us all the details. It is like a short reminder to contemplate all the elements in our spiritual life, from our current perspective, what we become as we progress on the path of enlightenment, and what we achieve (or not achieve) when we end that path.
If we want to understand all the details, we have to read the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra, which occupies about 21,000 pages in the Mahayana Buddhist canon, one hundred thousand lines in twelve large volumes. But the profound and wonderful meaning of the Heart Sutra is condensed in a short text with only 260 characters.
The sutra ends with the mantra “gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha,” which means “gone, gone, gone beyond, gone altogether beyond, O what an awakening, all-hail.” This mantra is a reminder of the ultimate goal of Buddhist practice, which is to go beyond all conceptual constructs and realize the ultimate truth of reality.
Overall, the Heart Sutra is a powerful and concise expression of the Prajnaparamita teachings, presenting some of the most profound insights into the nature of reality and the path to enlightenment. Its teachings have inspired countless practitioners throughout the centuries and continue to be studied and recited by Buddhists around the world.
The Perfection of Wisdom
As with most Buddhist scriptures, simply “believing in” what the Heart Sutra says is not the correct approach. However, we must also acknowledge that we cannot deeply understand the essence of the scripture by relying solely on the limited knowledge of the present.
While analysis is helpful, individuals still hold the words in their hearts for understanding to unfold through personal practice.
In this scripture, Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara is speaking with Shariputra, an important disciple of the Buddha. The opening lines of the sutra discuss the Five Skandhas, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness.
“Listen Sariputra, this Body itself is Emptiness and Emptiness itself is this Body. This Body is not other than Emptiness and Emptiness is not other than this Body. The same is true of Feelings, Perceptions, Mental Formations, and Consciousness.”
The central idea of “The Perfection of Wisdom” (Prajñāpāramitā in Sanskrit) is to achieve complete liberation from the world of existence. It goes beyond the teachings of previous Buddhism, which focused only on the arising and ceasing of phenomena to assert that there is no increase and decrease.
“The Perfection of Wisdom” states that there is no diversity, everything is one, even the existence of samsara and nirvana is a fundamental aspect of the universe.
In the context of Emptiness, “The Perfection of Wisdom” presents a way to attain enlightenment. It symbolizes the formal introduction of Buddhist thought into practical ideals – the ideals of a Bodhisattva, unlike an Arhat, who attains enlightenment but cannot use the means of enlightenment to help others.
A Bodhisattva must practice the six perfections: generosity, morality, patience, enthusiasm, meditation, and wisdom. Wisdom is the most important because it dispels the darkness of illusion and allows everything to be seen as it truly is.
“Like stars, like an optical illusion, like a lightbulb, like a mysterious illusion, tears, or a bubble, like a dream, a lightning bolt, or a cloud, therefore, everything that is created will be seen.”
Stars cannot be grasped. What is seen with faulty vision does not really exist. A lamp only burns as long as it has fuel. A false performance is a magical illusion, it is not itself. Dew drops evaporate quickly in the heat of the sun.
Bubbles have a short lifespan and no real essence. Dreams are not real, although they seem to be at the time. Lightning is short and fast. Clouds always change shape. By recognizing the temporary nature of all things, we can easily separate from them and achieve nirvana.
The Concept of Emptiness in the Heart Sutra
Emtpiness (Sanskrit: Śūnyatā) is a fundamental doctrine of Mahayana Buddhism. It may also be the most misunderstood doctrine in Buddhism. Usually, people think it means nothing exists. But this is not an accurate explanation.
The 14th Dalai Lama said, “Objects and events have no intrinsic nature and no individual identity except in our thoughts.”
The Dalai Lamas also teach that “existence can only be understood in terms of dependent origination (Pratītyasamutpāda).” Dependent origination is a doctrine about the interrelation of all things, where no entity or object exists independently from other living beings.
In the Four Noble Truths, the Buddha taught that our suffering arises from the belief that we are independent individuals with an inherent “self.” Recognizing the illusory nature of this inherent self leads to liberation from suffering.
Form Is Emptiness, Emptiness Is Form
What does this quote mean? “Form” here refers to physical objects, what we perceive through our five senses. It does not mean emptiness or formlessness. We must know when “Form” and when “Emptiness” in order to be liberated from suffering in life.
In the Heart Sutra, the Bodhisattva explains that all phenomena are expressions of emptiness, empty of inherent characteristics. Because phenomena do not have inherent characteristics, they do not arise or cease, are not pure or impure, do not come or go.
“There is no point at which the eye begins or ends, in time or in space or in concept. The eye is connected to the facial bone, and the facial bone is connected to the skull, and the skull is connected to the neck bone, and so it goes down to the bones of the toes, the bones of the floor, the bones of the earthworm, the fluttering butterfly bones. Therefore, what we call the eye is a collection of many bubbles in a sea of foam.”
What is the Bodhisattva saying here? Because all phenomena do not exist independently of other phenomena, all the distinctions we make are arbitrary and subjective.
Benefits of chanting Heart Sutra
Chanting the Heart Sutra is believed to have numerous benefits for the practitioner, including:
- Developing Wisdom: The Heart Sutra is often considered to be the essence of Buddhist wisdom. By chanting it, practitioners can deepen their understanding of emptiness and the nature of reality.
- Cultivating Compassion: The Heart Sutra includes the mantra “gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha,” which is often translated as “gone, gone, gone beyond, gone completely beyond, enlightenment, hail!” By chanting this mantra, practitioners can cultivate compassion and a sense of interconnectedness with all beings.
- Purifying the Mind: Chanting the Heart Sutra is believed to help purify the mind of negative thoughts and emotions. It can also help calm the mind and promote relaxation and inner peace.
- Generating Merit: Chanting the Heart Sutra is considered to be a meritorious activity in Buddhism, meaning it can help generate positive karma and bring about good fortune and blessings.
One of the most effective ways to overcome obstacles, as stated in Buddhist scriptures, is through the contemplation or recitation of prayers related to Emptiness. The Heart Sutra is a powerful text that offers great protection against negative samsaric things when recited. To overcome the most severe obstacles, the Heart Sutra puja is commonly performed alongside other rituals, such as the Sheningdundok Puja.
In conclusion, the Heart Sutra offers profound insight into the nature of reality, allowing us to transcend all dualities such as birth and death, self and non-self, happiness and suffering, wealth and poverty. It reminds us that all phenomena are manifestations of dependent origination, which is the ultimate message of the Sutra. Through the recitation and contemplation of the Heart Sutra, we can gain protection against negative forces and clear the obstacles on our path towards enlightenment.
