The Heart Sutra

1. Understanding the Heart Sutra:

The Heart Sutra encapsulates the Mahayana view of interdependent reality and the lack of inherent existence of all phenomena. 

It describes the nature of emptiness, or sunyata.It also presents the path of wisdom that leads to the liberation from samsara, and to the attainment of enlightenment.

2. The Heart Sutra’s Teaching:

Avalokiteshvara explains to Shariputra that in training in the perfection of wisdom one comes to realise the emptiness of all phenomena. 

Avalokiteshvara declares the famous formula: “Form is emptiness; emptiness is form”.

He goes on to extend this insight to the other four aggregates, as well as to the twelve links of dependent origination, the eighteen elements, the six sense faculties, the four noble truths, and various other aspects of Buddhist doctrine. 

He concludes by stating that all phenomena are empty, without characteristics, without arising and ceasing, without defilement and purification. 

The sutra negates conventional concepts and asserts that ultimate reality transcends all distinctions.  

3. The Core Teaching of Prajnaparamita:

The sutra then presents the core teaching of the Prajnaparamita: “Therefore, Shariputra, in emptiness there is no form, no feeling, no perception, no mental formations, no consciousness; no eye, no ear, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind; no appearance, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch, no object of mind; no realm of eye … up to no realm of mind-consciousness; no ignorance and also no extinction of ignorance … up to no old age and death and also no extinction of old age and death; no suffering, no origin of suffering, no cessation of suffering, no path; no wisdom and also no attainment and no lack of attainment

“With nothing to attain, a bodhisattva relies on prajnaparamita and thus has a mind that is without hindrance. Without hindrance there is no fear. Far beyond all inverted views he attains final nirvana.” This passage negates all conventional concepts and categories that are used to describe reality and asserts that ultimate reality transcends all dualities and distinctions.

A bodhisattva relies on prajnaparamita, attaining a mind without hindrance and fear, ultimately reaching final nirvana.

4. The Heart Sutra Mantra:

The sutra introduces the mantra: “Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha” (Gone gone beyond gone utterly beyond awakening, so be it).

The mantra expresses the aspiration to transcend limitations and achieve supreme awakening.

5. The Sutra Concludes

The Buddha arises from the meditation he is in at the start of the sutra and says: “Well said, well said. That is just how it is, my son, just how it is. The profound perfection of wisdom should be practised exactly as you have explained it. Then the Tathagatas will be truly delighted.”