The Heart Sutra
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Essence of the Mahayana classic - sources

A person who has perfected his wisdom knows that the five classes of common sense ‘things’ have no real existence.

The emptiness of thought, objects and events

The wise person sees that

  • form and no-form are two sides of the same coin, there cannot be one without the other. So with feelings, perceptions, impulses and consciousness.
  • being non-existent, these ‘things’ cannot be created or destroyed, cannot be pure or impure, cannot increase or decrease.
  • the following ‘things’ do not exist of themselves but rather are creations of the unenlightened mind:
    • forms, feelings, perceptions, impulses and consciousness
    • sense organs, bodies and minds
    • objects sensed or thought
    • ignorance and the extinction of ignorance
    • old age and death and the extinction of old age and death
    • suffering, accumulation, annihilation
    • the path to enlightenment
    • attainment of perfection and non-attainment of perfection

The enlightened state

After the perfection of wisdom the mind has no hindrances or obstacles and therefore has no fear. Having gone beyond troublesome thoughts the mind is at peace.

The essence of wisdom

In the past, present and future it is the same, the person who perfects his wisdom finds peace of mind.

Open to all

It is open to all people to perfect their wisdom and to transcend suffering. All that is required is going beyond common sense. It is never too late to change your mind. The catch phrase is GONE BEYOND.

Translations Used:
  • in Edward Conze ( 1959) Buddhist Scriptures; Penguin pp162-164
  • Mu Soeng Sunim (1991) Heart Sutra: Ancient Buddhist Wisdom in the Light of Quantum Reality; Primary Point Press
  • D T Suzuki in B L Suzuki (1981) Mahayana Buddhism; Unwin

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