Explanations of the Prajnaparamita Hridaya Sutra

By Victor M Fontane

Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva - Refers to the Bodhisattva observing the freedom of their own mind.

When Practicing Deep Prajnaparamita - Refers to practicing and offering profound wisdom (Prajna) over time, transforming suffering into happiness or calmness through changing one's perspective. The highest Prajnaparamita wisdom understands that beings are entangled in the five skandhas due to collective karma, engendering compassion towards all beings.

Perceives That All Five Skandhas Are Empty - Sees that the suffering and attachments arising from the five skandhas (form, sensation, perception, mental formations, consciousness) are empty, leading to detachment.

Overcomes All Suffering and Distress - Thus, one can transcend all suffering and distress.

Shariputra (Merit and Wisdom) - Shariputra, one of the principal disciples of the Buddha, known for his wisdom, signifies profound Buddhist wisdom symbolizing merits.

Form is Not Different from Emptiness - Form, which includes all physical phenomena (body and external world), is not different from emptiness. Understanding the five skandhas lack inherent nature can mitigate attachments and suffering.

Emptiness is Not Different from Form - Emptiness is not separate from form. Emptiness indicates the lack of inherent nature in all phenomena, and judgments about good and evil vary across time periods.

Form is Emptiness; Emptiness is Form - Form is emptiness, and similarly, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness are also empty. Daily life influenced by skandhas maintains habitual patterns.

Shariputra, All Dharmas Are Marked by Emptiness - Wisdom and merits signify the view that all phenomena lack inherent nature, formed by mind.

Neither Born Nor Cease - No birth, no cessation, like the mind where no thoughts and actions arise, no karma is created.

Neither Defiled Nor Pure - No inherent evil or goodness, as bodhisattvas master skandhas, transforming thoughts with wisdom from impermanent results of actions.

Neither Increase Nor Decrease - No absolute increase or decrease.

Therefore, in Emptiness, No Form - In emptiness, there’s no form, no suffering from skandhas, and recognizing means to avoid creating karmic actions.

No Sensation, Perception, Mental Formations, or Consciousness - No five skandhas means no distinctions in sensation, perception, mental formations, or consciousness.

No Eye, Ear, Nose, Tongue, Body, or Mind - Without skandha thoughts, no differentiation in sensory experiences.

No Color, Sound, Smell, Taste, Touch, or Mental Objects - No distinctions in sensory perceptions.

No Realm of Eyes, Until No Realm of Mind Consciousness - No judgment through sensory realms until the cessation of thoughts.

No Ignorance, Also No Ending of Ignorance - Ignorance and its cessation are transcended, stopping thoughts derived from skandhas.

Until No Old Age and Death, Also No Ending of Old Age and Death - Transcending attachment to life and death.

No Suffering, Origin, Cessation, Path - No distinctions in the Four Noble Truths. These are names pointing to life’s issues and paths but are empty in ultimate wisdom.

No Wisdom, Also No Attainment - No special wisdom or attainment. Supreme wisdom goes beyond common understanding of “wisdom” and “gains.”

Because There Is Nothing to Be Attained - Because there is nothing truly obtainable. Supreme wisdom does not cling to attainments.

Bodhisattvas - Bodhisattvas aim to lead beings away from suffering caused by collective karma through wisdom and compassion.

Relying on Prajnaparamita, the Mind Has No Hindrances - Depending on profound wisdom, the mind is free from obstacles because transformed thoughts prevent distractions.

Without Hindrances, No Fears Exist - A mind without obstacles has no fear.

Far from All Inverted Views - Transcends mistaken views and delusions. Realizing prajna wisdom goes beyond common wisdom depending on skandhas.

Ultimately Nirvana - Achieving complete liberation and peace, the state of Nirvana.

All Past, Present, and Future Buddhas, Relying on Prajnaparamita, Attain Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi - Past, present, and future Buddhas attain supreme enlightenment through profound wisdom.

Therefore, Know Prajnaparamita - Thus, knowing profound wisdom reveals varying causes and effects across times, detached from motives like status symbols.

Is the Great Mantra - It is a great mantra.

Is the Mantra of Great Wisdom - It is a mantra of great illumination.

Is the Supreme Mantra - It is the incomparable mantra.

Is the Unequalled Mantra - It is an unparalleled mantra.

Able to Remove All Suffering - It can eliminate all suffering by understanding emptiness and transforming thoughts away from skandhas.

The mantra is Real and True, Not False