Hadaya Sutta in Prajnaparamita Text

Sumanapal Bhikkhu

The Prajnaparamita Hrdaya Sutra is the earliest Mahayana Sutra. This Sutra is of great important from the point of view of the history of religion. This Sutra treats the "Six perfection" (Paramitas) of a Bodhisatta, especially of Prajnaparamita the highest perfection, called 'Wisdom'.¹

The title of the Prajnaparamita Hrdaya Sutra (or Heart Sutra) combines Dharma, i.e., Prajna paramita with a specific example Heart or Hadaya. (Skt. Prajnaparamita Hrdaya, Pali, Pannaparamita Hadaya). The terms use is in Sanskrit Prajna means wisdom, and Prajnaparamita stands for wisdom acquired experientially, by means of intuitive insight and perfect cultivation to the level of transcendental knowledge. It is the original wisdom of the mind, or the true mind.² Prajnaparamita seventeen types in total and the Prajnaparamita Hrdaya Sutra is one of them.

The Heart Sutra is the axis of all the Prajnaparamita teachings. Taking further the example of the mind, and might call the Heart Sutra as the centre of the central Sutras. If we compare the core of this sutra with the worldling mind, the mind of Prajna is the true mind and the mind of wordlings is the deluded mind.³ The mind of Prajnaparamita sutra is the true mind, also referred to as the Essential wisdom. Essential wisdom we are speaking of is to be distinguished from an awareness of object or environment and their used and value usually characterized as 'knowledge' by worldlings.

The term Paramita is in Sanskrit means reaching the other shore. "Prajnaparamita or the wonderful wisdom, coursing like a boat, transports all sentient beings across the sea of defilement to the other shore that is Nirvana. The word Nirvana, also from Sanskrit, means transcending birth and death, or simply liberation."⁴ Prajna paramita is therefore, the Essential wisdom and the centre of all kinds of Prajna.

'Sutra' in Sanskrit originally meant to uphold, and when applied to principles, it uphold the principles of all Buddha’s moving upward, downward upholding sentient beings according to their potentiality. Sutra means a shortcut and a well frequented path. It means the way to complete Enlightenment.

We should have no difficulty to understand the sutra's purpose. We should understand its principle according to the sentence 'there is nothing to be attained.' When there is nothing to attain, one is able to discern the characteristic of Emptiness.⁵

[I have translated on Prajnaparamita Hrdaya (Heart) Sutra from Skt. to Pali. This translation prepared by, I have tried my best. Now I am placing Hrdaya Sutra in Pali.]

Namo Sabbanu, Evam me sutam Ekam samayam bhagava Rajagahe viharati Gijjhakuta pabbate mahatabhikkhu Ssamghena saddhim mahata ca bodhisattasamghena. Tena kho pana samayena bhagava dhammapariyaya namo samadhi samapanno. Tena ca samayena Ariyavalokitessaro bodhisatta mahasatta gambhiraya panna paramitaya cariya caramano evam avalokayati. Gambhirasambodha Pancasakhandhacca svabhava sunnam avalokayati.

Atha kho ayusma Sariputto Buddhanubhavena Ariya Avalokitessaro bodhisatta etad-avoca-yo kvacit kulaputto ca, kuladuhita ca, gambhiraya pannaparamitaya cariya catukamo, katha sikkhitaboo? Eva uttam Ariya Avalokitessaro boddhisatta mahasatta ayusmantam Sariputta etad-avoca-yo kvacit Sariputta. Kulaputta ca Kuladuhita ca gambhiraya pannaparamitaya cariya catukamo, tena eva avalokitabbam pancasakhandhacca svabhava sunnana samanupassati, rupasunnata sunnateva rupam, rupanna puthaga sunnaata, sunnataya na puthaga rupam. (Ya rupam ma sunnata ya sunnata tvam rupam). Evam vedana, sanna- sankkharavinnanani ca sunnam. Evam Sariputta sabbadhamma sunnata lakkhana anupanna aniruddha amala  abimala anuna asampunna. Tasma tehi Sariputta sunnataya na rupam, na vedana, na sanna, na sankhara, na vinnanam. Na cakkho, na sotam, na ghanam, na jivha, na kaya, na-mano, na rupa, na saddo, na ganddho, na raso, na phasso, na dhamma. Na cakkhudhatu vanno, manodhatu, na mano vinn anadhatu (na dhammadhatu). Na avijja, na vijja, na khayo, ya vanno jaramarana, na

jaramaranakhayo. Tatha eva na dukkha Samudaya, nirodha maggo, na nana, na labha-alabha. Tasma Sariputta alabhena bodhisattanam pannaparamitaassitva viharati (Cittavarana). Cittavaranassitva atha Vipariyasa nitthanibbana. Ti addhatthta sabba Buddha pi pannaparamitaassitva, anuttara samma sambodhi-abhisambodhi. Tasma (natabbo) pannaparamita mahamanta, mahavijja manto, anuttara manta, asamasamamanta sabba dukkha pasamanamanta, sacca abhinnatva pannaparamitaya utta manta. Seyathidham 'gate gate paregate parasamgate bodhisvaha.' Evam Sariputta gambhiraya pannaparamitaya cariyaya sikkhitabbo bodhisatta mahasattena.

Atha ko bhagava tasma samadhitthaya Ariya Avalokitessarassa bodhisatta maha sttassa Sadhukara adhata-Sadhu kulaputta, evam etad kulaputta, evam etad gambhiraya pan aparamitaya cariya cataba yatha taya niddittham anumodhate Tathagate.

Idha avoca bhagava. (Anandamana) Ayusma Sariputto Ariya Avalokitessarassa bodhisatta mahasatto, sa ca sabba avattana parisada deva, manussa, asura, ganddhabba ca loka bhagavato bhasita abhinandati.

Iti Pannaparamita Hadaya suttam nitthitam.

Notes :

1.           Prajnaparamita means both the perfection of wisdom, and the writings treating of it, though in the Mahayana as in the Hinayana, there are sometimes ten. paramitas enumerated, yet more frequently there are only six, viz; Charity, moral conduct, patience, energy, meditation and wisdom. Winternitz, M., A. History of Indian literature, vol-II, Motilal Baranasidas Publishers Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 1993, p. 301.

2.           To, Master Lok, The Prajnaparamita or Heart Sutra, Sutra translation committee of the U.S.A. New York. 1995, p.3.

     3.     Ibid, p. 4.

     4.     Ibid.

     5.     Ibid, p. 5.