Heart Sutra (佛說帝釋般若波羅蜜多心經)

About 佛說帝釋般若波羅蜜多心經

Song · Source text translated by 施護

1,673 · about 6 min

The Sutra of the Heart of Prajñāpāramitā Spoken to Śakra, translated by the eminent translator Śikṣānanda of the Northern Song dynasty, belongs to the Mahāyāna Buddhist scriptures. Centered on Śakra, this sutra expounds the thought of śūnyatā (emptiness) in Prajñāpāramitā, emphasizing the attainment of liberation—the shore beyond—through wisdom. Its content is concise yet encompasses the essential meaning of the Prajñāpāramitā scriptures, revealing the core teachings of dependent origination, the emptiness of inherent nature, and the non-self of all phenomena. As a significant translator of the Song dynasty, Śikṣānanda's rendition is clear and fluent, exerting a profound influence on the development of Prajñāpāramitā studies in Chinese Buddhism. Although brief in length, this sutra possesses profound doctrinal depth and is regarded as an important supplement to the Prajñāpāramitā corpus. It holds a unique position within Buddhist practice and philosophical systems, serving as a key text for the study of Mahāyāna emptiness contemplation.