HEART OF THE PRAJNA-PARAMITA SUTRA
(with outline)
1. Introduction
1-1. The practitioner
When Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
1-2. The practice method
is practising the profound Prajna-paramita,
1-3. The result of the practice
He sees and illuminates to the emptiness of the five skandhas, and
Thus attains deliverance from all suffering.
2. Explaining the essence of the Prajna-paramita practice
2-1. The relationship between physical dharmas and emptiness
Sariputra, matter is not different from emptiness, and
Emptiness is not different from matter.
Matter is emptiness and emptiness is matter.
2-2. The relationship between mental dharmas and emptiness
So too are sensation, recognition, volition and consciousness.
2-3. The ultimate character of all dharmas cannot be comprehended through delusive
and/or discriminative thinking, nor does it fall into duality. It is, by its
own nature, non-arising
Sariputra, the emptiness character of all dharmas,
neither arises nor ceases,
is neither pure nor impure, and
neither increases nor decreases.
2-4. Therefore, in the emptiness character, there is nothing obtainable
2-4-1. There is no existence of the five skandhas, the twelve bases, or the
eighteen fields
Therefore, in emptiness: there is no matter,
no sensation, recognition, volition or consciousness,
no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind,
no sight, sound, scent, taste, tangibles, or dharma,
no field of the eye up to no field of mental consciousness,
2-4-2. There is no existence of the forward and backward cycles of the twelve
links of Dependent Origination
no ignorance or the ending of ignorance up to
no ageing and death of the ending of ageing and death,
2-4-3. There is no existence of the four noble truths
no suffering, no cause of suffering,
no ending of suffering, and no path,
2-4-4. There is no existence of wisdom or attainment
no wisdom and also no attainment.
2-5. Summarizing that in emptiness there is not a thing obtainable, and because
there is nothing obtained, you attain the unsurpassed fruit
Because there is nothing obtainable,
3. Explaining that from practising prajna-paramita you can obtain the ultimate
fruit
3-1. The Final Nirvana
Bodhisattvas through the reliance on Prajna-paramita
have no attachment and hindrance in their minds.
Because there is no more attachment and hindrance,
there is no more fear, and
Far away from erroneous views and wishful-thinking,
Ultimately : The Final Nirvana.
3-2. TheSupreme Enlightenment
Buddhas of the past, present, and future all rely on Prajna-paramita
to attain Annutara-samyak-sambodhi.
4. Conclusion
4-1. Glorification of the wondrous merits of the Prajna-paramita
Therefore, realize that Prajna-paramita
is the great wondrous mantra,
the great radiant mantra,
the unsurpassed mantra, and
the unequalled mantra.
It can eradicate all suffering, and
It is genuine and not false.
Therefore, utter the Prajna-paramita mantra -
Chant :
Gate Gate Paragate Parasmagate Bodhisvaha!
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Explanatory notes to Prajna-Paramita Sutra
The Three Classifications:
The fundamental reason that Buddha taught was to provide ways and methods for
sentient beings to escape the realm of unending suffering. The essence of his
teaching is the Law of Dependent Origination. This law states that when conditions
are ripe, phenomena come to be, and when conditions change, the phenomena fade
away. However, sentient beings attach to these impermanent phenomena and erroneously
conjure up the notions of "self" and/or "this is mine".
To remedy this, the Buddha used the Three Classifications to show that a person
is nothing more than a combination of various elements which come together under
suitable conditions. Therefore a person is also dependently originated; and
hence empty of "self".
The Three Classifications are:
1. The Five Skandhas
2. The Twelve Bases
3. The Eighteen Fields
The Five Skandhas
Skandha [i.e. aggregates, heaps, or groups]: has the meaning of accumulation
and grouping together of similar physical and mental phenomena.
The file aggregates [i.e. matter, sensation, recognition, volition, and consciousness]
come together to form one interdependent unit. This combined unit is unstable
and transient, but we attach to this interdependent unit and/or the five aggregates
as the self.
The first skandha represents physical elements, and the remaining four represent
the mental activities of a person.
Matter (rupa Skandha): refers to physical things. These physical things do not
exist independently. Their existence depends on the coming together of the four
classical elements. (i.e. earth [solid], water [liquid], air [gas] and heat
[energy]). Although, matter takes up space, it is empty of self-nature: it arises
and comes to be, and it fades away and ceases to be.
Sensation (vedanna Skandha): is the acquiring of data through sensory organs
(including the mind) and the interpreting of such sensations as pleasant, unpleasant,
or indifferent.
Recognition (sanjna Skandha): has the function of conceptualizing and recognizing
sensory data and mental phenomena. The mind then identifies them and turns them
into concepts. This conceptualizing process generates notions and, hence establishes
names and words.
Volition (samskara Skandha): implies intention and mental action. These mental
activities lead to karmic results. When we perceive an image, the mind analyzes
and formulates a decision accordingly. These decisions initiate mental, verbal
and/or physical actions which will produce karma. Some examples of volitional
actions include: attention, will, determination, confidence, concentration,
wisdom, energy, desire, hatred, ignorance, conceit, idea of self, etc.
Consciousness (vijnana Skandha): is the ability to be conscious of the differences
and to be aware of the existence of mental and physical phenomena, i.e. the
awareness of the previous four skandhas.
The Twelve Bases
Bases (ayatana) [sources, places] imply the meaning of germinating and nourishing.
That is, mental functions and activities can be germinated and nourished from
these twelve bases. They are the six internal bases(eye, ear, nose, tongue,
body and mind), and the six external bases (sight, sound, scent, taste, tangibles
and dharma). The six internal bases are also called the six sensory organs,
on which mental activities rely to function. The six external bases are sometimes
referred to as the six objects and are what mental activities process and act
on.
The Eighteen Fields
Fields (dhatu) imply the meaning of groups and classifications. These fields
form the foundations and conditions of all mental activities. That is, a person
can be divided into eighteen fields, each having its own properties, characteristics,
and area of activity. The eighteen fields are the six internal bases, the six
external objects, plus the six consciousness which arise when the six internal
bases interact with the six corresponding external objects.
The Twelve Links of Dependent Origination
Dependent origination means that the arising or the becoming of a phenomenon
is dependent on the coming together of conditions and/or other phenomena. When
conditions are ripe, a phenomena arises; when these conditions change, the phenomenon
ceases to be.
The twelve phenomena (links) of dependent origination illustrate the causal
relaitonship and interdependence of the twelve links, which together constitute
the existence and continuation of life.
The forward cycle of these twelve links is the unending transmigration of a
living being in the wheel of reincarnation. On the other hand, the backward
cycle implies that once this interdependent chain is broken, liberation is attained.
These twelve links are :-
1. Ingorance - from which volition and karma arise and come to be.
2. Volition - from which consciousness arises and comes to be.
3. Consciousness - from which body and mind come to be.
4. Body/mind - from which the six internal bases (eye, ear, nose, tongue, body
and mind) arise and come to be.
5. The six senses - from which the six external bases (sight, sound, scent,
taste, tangibles and dharma) arise and come to be.
6. Contact - from which sensory and mental sensations of pleasure, pain or neutrality
arise and come to be.
7. Sensation - from which desire, thirst and craving arise and come to be.
8. Desire - from which attachment, clinging, or grasping arise and come to be.
9. Attachment - from which existence and the process of becoming arise and come
to be.
10. Existence (becoming) - from which birth or re-birth (reincarnation) arises
and comes to be.
11. Birth - from which ageing and eventually death arise and come to be.
12. Ageing and Death - from which ignorance and the cycle repeats itself, indefinitely
until broken.
The Four Noble Truths
Truth here implies reality. The Four Noble Truths are four principles that enlightened
beings see and understand as reality. The Four are:
1. Suffering: "But what, O monks, is the noble truth of Suffering? Birth
is suffering, decay is suffering, death is suffering; sorrow, lamentation, pain,
grief and despair are suffering. In short, the five groups of existence connected
with attachments are suffering."
2. The cause of Suffering: "But what, O monks, is the noble truth of the
Origin of suffering? It is that craving which gives rise to fresh rebirth and,
bound up with lust and greed, now here now there, finds ever fresh delight.
It is the Sensual Craving, the Craving for Existence, the Craving for Non-existence
or self-annihilation."
3. The Cessation of Suffering: "But what, O monks, is the noble truth of
the Extinction of Suffering? It is the complete fading away and extinction of
this craving, its forsaking and giving up, liberation and detachment from it."
4. The way to attain Cessation of Suffering: "But what, O monks, is the
noble truth of the way to attain Cessation of Suffering? It is the noble eightfold
path that leads to the Cessation of Suffering, namely:
1. Right View
2. Right Thought
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration