RuShiWoWen

Preface to the Heart Sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom

Composed by the Tang Dynasty Monk Huizhong

The Dharma-nature is boundless, how could it be measured by the mind? True Suchness is without form, how could it be described by words? Thus, sentient beings are vast and endless, the ocean of Dharma is wide and without limit. If one broadly seeks textual meanings, it is like seeking forms within a mirror; if one further ceases thoughts and contemplates emptiness, it is again like fleeing from a shadow in broad daylight. This sutra is like the great earth— what thing is not born from the earth? All Buddhas point solely to the One Mind— what dharma is not established by the mind? Simply realize the mind-ground, thus it is called the great dhāraṇī; awaken to the unproduced nature of dharmas, this is named wondrous enlightenment. A single thought transcends— why dwell in elaborate discussions?

The Heart Sutra

Translated by the Tripitaka Master Xuanzang.

Chapter 1: The Prologue

Thus have I heard:

Thus have I heard. At one time, the Buddha was staying at Vulture Peak in Rajagriha, together with a great assembly of twelve thousand monks, all of whom were arhats, free of defilement, with no further afflictions, having attained their own benefit, having ended all bonds of existence, and their minds fully liberated.

Their names were: Ajnata Kaundinya, Mahakashyapa, Uruvilva Kashyapa, Gaya Kashyapa, Nadi Kashyapa, Shariputra, Mahamaudgalyayana, Mahakatyayana, Aniruddha, Kapphina, Gavampati, Revata, Pilindavatsa, Bakkula, Mahakaushthila, Nanda, Sundarananda, Purna Maitrayaniputra, Subhuti, Ananda, and Rahula. These were the great arhats well known to the assembly. There were also two thousand others, both those still in training and those beyond training.

Mahaprajapati, the nun, was present with her retinue of six thousand. Yashodhara, the nun and mother of Rahula, was also present with her retinue.

There were also eighty thousand bodhisattva-mahasattvas, all of whom had attained irrevocability from Anuttara Samyaksambodhi. They had all attained dharani, delighted in eloquent exposition, and turned the irrevocable wheel of the Dharma. They had made offerings to countless hundreds of thousands of Buddhas, planting roots of virtue under these Buddhas, and were constantly praised by them. They cultivated themselves through compassion, entered deeply into the Buddha's wisdom, penetrated the great insight, and reached the other shore. Their names were known throughout countless worlds, and they were able to liberate innumerable hundreds of thousands of beings.

Their names were: Manjushri Bodhisattva, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, Constant Effort Bodhisattva, Never Resting Bodhisattva, Jewel Palm Bodhisattva, Medicine King Bodhisattva, Courageous Giver Bodhisattva, Jewel Moon Bodhisattva, Moonlight Bodhisattva, Full Moon Bodhisattva, Great Strength Bodhisattva, Immeasurable Strength Bodhisattva, Transcending the Three Realms Bodhisattva, Bhadrapala Bodhisattva, Maitreya Bodhisattva, Jewel Accumulation Bodhisattva, and Guide Bodhisattva. Such bodhisattva-mahasattvas, eighty thousand in all, were gathered together.

At that time, Shakra, the King of Gods, came with his retinue of twenty thousand celestial beings. Then there came the Moon Light Heavenly Prince, the Universal Fragrance Heavenly Prince, and the Jeweled Light Heavenly Prince, along with the Four Heavenly Kings, each accompanied by their retinues of ten thousand celestial beings. The Sovereign Heavenly Prince and the Great Sovereign Heavenly Prince came with their retinues of thirty thousand celestial beings. Then Brahma, the Lord of the Saha World, together with the Great Brahma Shikhi and the Great Brahma of Radiance, came with twelve thousand celestial beings in their company. There were also eight Dragon Kings—Nanda, Upananda, Sagara, Vasuki, Takshaka, Anavatapta, Manasvin, and Utpalaka—each accompanied by retinues numbering in the hundreds of thousands. There were four Kinnara Kings—Dharma Kinnara King, Wonderful Dharma Kinnara King, Great Dharma Kinnara King, and Dharma-Holding Kinnara King—each with retinues numbering in the hundreds of thousands. There were four Gandharva Kings—Music Gandharva King, Melodious Music Gandharva King, Beautiful Gandharva King, and Beautiful Sound Gandharva King—each with their own retinues of hundreds of thousands. There were four Asura Kings—Bali, Kharaskandha, Vemacitrin, and Rahu—each with retinues numbering in the hundreds of thousands. There were four Garuda Kings—Great Virtue and Power Garuda King, Great Body Garuda King, Great Fullness Garuda King, and Wish-Fulfilling Garuda King—each with retinues numbering in the hundreds of thousands. Then came King Ajatashatru, son of Vaidehi, with his retinue of hundreds of thousands. Each in turn bowed at the Buddha's feet and then withdrew to sit to one side.

At that time, the World-Honored One was surrounded by the four assemblies, who offered him alms, paid him respect, honored him, and praised him. For the bodhisattvas, he taught a Mahayana sutra called the Sutra of Infinite Meanings, a method for teaching bodhisattvas, one that is guarded and kept in mind by all Buddhas. After the Buddha had delivered this sutra, he sat cross-legged and entered the samadhi of the Place of Infinite Meanings, his body and mind utterly still. At that moment, celestial flowers fell like rain—mandarava flowers, great mandarava flowers, manjushaka flowers, and great manjushaka flowers—scattering over the Buddha and the entire assembly. Throughout all Buddha-worlds, the earth shook in six ways. In that gathering, there were monks, nuns, laymen, laywomen, celestial beings, dragons, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, humans and non-humans alike, as well as lesser kings and universal monarchs. All of them, having witnessed what they had never seen before, joyfully pressed their palms together and fixed their gaze upon the Buddha with single-minded attention.

Diamond Perfection of Wisdom Sutra

Translated by Kumārajīva, Tripiṭaka Master from India during the Yao Qin Dynasty.

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was staying in the kingdom of Śrāvastī, in the Jeta Grove of Anāthapiṇḍada’s Garden, together with a great assembly of bhikṣus, twelve hundred fifty in all. At that time, when it was time for the meal, the World-Honored One put on his robe, took up his bowl, and entered the great city of Śrāvastī to beg for food. Within that city, he begged in successive order, then returned to his original place. After finishing his meal, he put away his robe and bowl, washed his feet, arranged his seat, and sat down.

At that time, the Elder Subhūti, rising from his seat among the assembly, bared his right shoulder, placed his right knee upon the ground, joined his palms respectfully, and addressed the Buddha, saying: “How rare, World-Honored One, is the Tathāgata’s skillful protection and mindfulness of all bodhisattvas, and his skillful entrustment of all bodhisattvas. World-Honored One, when virtuous men and virtuous women have aroused the mind of Anuttarā Samyaksaṃbodhi, how should they abide? How should they subdue their minds?”