Translated from the Chinese version by Daniel
Reid
The Bodhisattva Kuan Yin, while deep in the
practice
of the Prajna Paramita,
saw with luminous clarity
that the Five Aggregates
of human identity
are all essentially empty,
and so transcended all
suffering and trouble.
Sariputra, form differs not from awareness;
awareness differs not from
form;
form is essentially emptiness;
emptiness is the essence of form;
sensation, thought, memory and cognition
are also all the same.
Sariputra,
all phenomena are devoid of innate quality:
neither created nor destroyed;
neither polluted nor pure;
neither increased nor decreased.
Therefore,
within awareness there is no form,
no sensation, thought, memory or cognition;
no eyes, ears, nose, tongue,
body, or mind;
no shape, sound, smell,
taste, touch, or concept;
no visible realm of sight,
not even a conscious realm of thought;
no ignorance, and no
cessation of ignorance;
as well as no old age and death,
and no cessation of old age and death;
no suffering, origin of suffering, extinction of suffering, or path;
nothing to know and nothing
to gain.
Because there is nothing to gain,
bodhisattvas rely on
the Prajna Paramita,
to keep their minds free of confusion;
and because they are free of confusion,
they have no fear
and stay detached from the distorted dreams
of wishful thinking,
including the dream of
nirvana.
All Buddhas of the past, present, and future
rely on the Prajna Paramita
to realize the great perfection
of fully awakened awareness.
Thus we know the Prajna Paramita
is a great spiritual mantra,
is a great enlightened mantra,
is an unsurpassed mantra,
is a peerless mantra,
and can eliminate
all suffering.
it is true, it is real,
it is not false
and that's why we recite the Prajna Paramita mantra.
Now let's recite the mantra
like this:
“Om Gatay, Gatay,
Paragatay, Parasamgatay, Bodhi Svaha!”
(“Gone, Gone, Gone
Beyond, Gone Completely Beyond,
So Be Awakened!”)
