The Heart Sutra
When Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara practiced the profound Prajna-paramita, he investigated and perceived that the five aggregates were non-existent thus securing his deliverance from all distress and sufferings.
Sariputra! Form does not differ from the void, nor the void from form. Form is identical with void and void is identical with form. So also are reception, conception, mental function and consciousness in relation to the void.
Sariputra, the void of all things is not created, not annihilated, not impure, not pure, not increasing and not decreasing.
Therefore, with the void, there is no form and no reception, conception, mental function and no consciousness; there is no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind; there is no form, sound, smell, taste, touch, and idea; there are no such things as the eighteen realms of sense from the realm of sight up to that of the faculty of mind; there are no such things as the twelve links in the chain of existence from ignorance with also the end of ignorance up to old age and death; there are no such things as the four noble truths and there is no wisdom and also no gain.
Because of gainlessness, Bodhisattvas who rely on Prajna-paramita, have no hindrance in their hearts, and since they have no hindrance, they have no fear, are free from contrary and delusive and ideas and attain the Final Nirvana.
All Buddhas of the past, present and future obtained complete vision and perfect enlightenment by relying on Prajna-paramita. So we know that Prajna-paramita is the great supernatural Mantra, the great bright, unsurpassed and unequalled Mantra which can truly and without fail wipe out all sufferings.
Therefore, he uttered the Prajna-paramita Mantra which reads:
Gate, gate, paragate, parasamgate Bodhi Svaha.
