Is one of the principal documents of the Zen way.
To hear it chanted from a Sanskrit text go here.
Here’s an English text, the Rochester Zen Center translation based upon the work of Roshi Philip Kapleau:
The Bodhisattva of compassion
from the depths of prajna wisdom
saw the emptiness of all five skandhas
and sundered the bonds that caused him suffering.
Know then:
Form here is only emptiness,
Know then:
Form here is only emptiness,
emptiness only form.
Form is no other than emptiness,
emptiness no other than form.
Feeling, thought, and choice, consciousness itself,
are the same as this.
Dharmas here are empty, all are the primal void.
None are born or die.
Nor are they stained or pure,
Nor do they wax or wane.
So in emptiness no form, no feeling,
thought, or choice
nor is there consciousness.
No eye, ear, nose, tongue,
body mind: no color, sound, smell, taste, touch,
or what the mind takes hold of, nor even act of sensing.
No ignorance or end of it
nor all that comes of ignorance:
no withering, no death, no end of them.
Nor is there pain
or cause of pain or cease in pain
or noble path to lead from pain,
Not even wisdom to attain,
attainment too is emptiness.
So know that the Bodhisattvaholding nothing whatever
but dwelling in prajna wisdom
is freed of delusive hindrance,
rid of the fear bred by it,
and reaches clearest Nirvana.
All Buddhas of past and present,
Buddhas of future time
through faith in
Prajnaparamita wisdom
come to full enlightenment.
Know, then, the Great dharani,
the Radiant, Peerless mantra,
the Supreme
Unfailing mantra,
the Prajna Paramita,
whose words allay all pain.
This is the highest wisdom
true beyond all doubt,
know and proclaim its truth:
Gate’
Gate’
Paragate’
Parasamgate’
Bodhi,
Svaha!
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In