Tang · Source text translated by 義淨
343 · about 1 min
The Sutra on the Five Aggregates Being Empty, Spoken by the Buddha, is an important Buddhist scripture translated by the eminent Tang Dynasty monk Yijing, belonging to one of the fundamental doctrinal texts of early Buddhism. Yijing is one of the four great translators of Chinese Buddhism, active during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, renowned for the precision of his translations. This sutra expounds the truth that the five aggregates (form, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness) are all empty, pointing out that sentient beings suffer because of their attachment to these aggregates, and that only by penetrating the fundamental emptiness of the five aggregates can liberation be attained. Though brief, the scripture encompasses the core teachings of Buddhism, sharing the same essence as the Heart Sutra. It holds a significant position within Mahayana Buddhism, often used as foundational material for meditation and the cultivation of Prajñā (Wisdom), and has profoundly influenced Buddhist practice throughout later generations.
Human translations available