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The Heart Sutra

My constant companion

My constant companion

The Heart Sutra
The Bodhisattva of Compassion,
When he meditated deeply,
Saw the emptiness of all five skandhas And sundered the bonds that caused him
suffering.
Here then,
Form is no other than emptiness, Emptiness no other than form. Form is only emptiness, Emptiness only form.
Feeling, thought, and choice, Consciousness itself,
Are the same as this.
All things are by nature void They are not born or destroyed Nor are they stained or pure Nor do they wax or wane
So, in emptiness, no form,
No feeling, thought, or choice,
Nor is there consciousness.
No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind; No colour, sound, smell, taste, touch, Or what the mind takes hold of,
Nor even act of sensing.
No ignorance or end of it,
Nor all that comes of ignorance; No withering, no death,
No end of them.
Nor is there pain, or cause of pain, Or cease in pain, or noble path
To lead from pain;
Not even wisdom to attain! Attainment too is emptiness.
So know that the Bodhisattva Holding to nothing whatever, But dwelling in Prajna wisdom, Is freed of delusive hindrance, Rid of the fear bred by it,
And reaches clearest Nirvana.
All Buddhas of past and present, Buddhas of future time,
Using this Prajna wisdom, Come to full and perfect vision.
Hear then the great dharani, The radiant peerless mantra, The Prajnaparamita
Whose words allay all pain; Hear and believe its truth!
Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha