Heart Sutra Full Text - "Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra Full Text, Phonetics, Recitation, Explanation

Content

Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, when practicing deeply the Prajnaparamita, sees that all five aggregates are empty, and overcomes all suffering and distress.

Shariputra! Form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form; form is exactly emptiness, emptiness is exactly form, sensation, perception, volition, and consciousness are also like this.

Shariputra! All phenomena are characterized by emptiness; they are neither born nor destroyed, neither impure nor pure, neither increasing nor decreasing.

Therefore, in the air there is no color, no sensation, thought, action, or consciousness; no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no form, sound, smell, taste, touch, or dharma;

Summary
The Heart Sutra, a key text in Mahayana Buddhism, emphasizes the concept of emptiness (śūnyatā) as a fundamental aspect of reality. It begins with Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, who perceives the emptiness of the five aggregates (form, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness) and thus transcends suffering. The sutra asserts that form is not separate from emptiness, and emptiness is not separate from form, highlighting the interdependence of all phenomena. It teaches that all things are devoid of inherent existence, leading to the understanding that suffering arises from attachment and ignorance. The text encourages practitioners to cultivate wisdom through the practice of the perfection of wisdom (prajñāpāramitā), which leads to liberation from fear and delusion. The mantra at the end, "Gate Gate Pāragate Pārasaṃgate Bodhi Svāhā," encapsulates the essence of the sutra, guiding practitioners towards enlightenment. The Heart Sutra is revered for its profound insights into the nature of reality and the path to spiritual awakening, making it a cornerstone of Buddhist philosophy.