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Prajnaparamita
Heart Sutra
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| We have to realise that everything around us is just an illusion. With this understanding, our minds will improve and we will be able to sort out all the problems in our lives. Therefore as part of our training it is important to read and think carefully about the heart sutra every day. By doing this we can begin to better understand the nature of life. | |
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The Bodhisattva
Avalokitesvara, while moving in the deep course of Prajnaparamita, shed
light on the five skandhas and found them equally empty. After this penetration,
he overcame all pain. |
| "Listen,
Shariputra, form is emptiness, emptiness is form; form does not differ from
emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form. The same is true with feeling,
perception, intention and consciousness. "Hear, Shariputra, all dharmas are marked with emptiness; they are neither produced nor destroyed, neither defiled nor immaculate, neither increasing nor decreasing. Therefore, in emptiness there is no form, feeling, intention, or consciousness; no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no forms, sounds, smell, tastes, touches, or mental objects; nor is there the realm ofthe eyes, up to and including the realm of mind consciousness. There is no ignorance or ending of ignorance; up to and including no decay and death or ending of decay and death. There is no suffering, no origination of suffering, no extinction of suffering, and no path; no knowledge and also no attainment. "Because there is no attainment, the bodhisattvas, supported by the Prajnaparamita, find no obstacles for their minds. Having no obstacles, they overcome fear, liberating themselves forever from illusion and realising perfect Nirvana. All Buddhas in the past, present, and future, through reliance upon Prajnaparamita, arrive at full, right, and universal Enlightenment. "Therefore, one should know that Prajnaparamita is a great spiritual mantra, a great wisdom mantra, a supreme mantra, an unequalled mantra. It destroys all suffering because it is the incorruptible truth. A mantra of Prajnaparamita should therefore be proclaimed. This is the mantra: "GATE GATE PARAGATE PARASAMGATE BODHISVAHA." pronounced as gah-teh gah-teh, pah-ra-gah-teh, pah-ra-sum-gah-teh, boo-di so-ha |
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