The Sutra on the Heart of Realizing Wisdom Beyond Wisdom [The Heart Sutra]

Avalokiteshvara, who helps all to awaken,

moves in the deep course of

realizing wisdom beyond wisdom,

sees that all five streams of

body, heart, and mind are without boundary,

and frees all from anguish.

O Shariputra [who listens to the teachings of the Buddha],

form is not separate from boundlessness;

boundlessness is not separate from form.

Form is boundlessness; boundlessness is form.

Feelings, perceptions, inclinations, and discernment are also like this.

O Shariputra,

boundlessness is the nature of all things.

It neither arises nor perishes,

neither stains nor purifies,

neither increases nor decreases.

Boundlessness is not limited by form,

nor by feelings, perceptions, inclinations, or discernment.

It is free of the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind;

free of sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and any object of mind;

free of sensory realms, including the realm of the mind.

It is free of ignorance and the end of ignorance.

Boundlessness is free of old age and death,

and free of the end of old age and death.

It is free of suffering, arising, cessation, and path,

and free of wisdom and attainment.

Being free of attainment, those who help all to awaken

abide in the realization of wisdom beyond wisdom

and live with an unhindered mind.

Without hindrance, the mind has no fear.

Free from confusion, those who lead all to liberation

embody profound serenity.

All those in the past, present, and future,

who realize wisdom beyond wisdom,

manifest unsurpassable and thorough awakening.

Knowing that realizing wisdom beyond wisdom

is no other than this wondrous mantra,

luminous, unequaled, and supreme.

It relieves all suffering.

It is genuine, not illusory.

So set forth this mantra of realizing wisdom beyond wisdom.

Set forth this mantra that says:

Gone, Gone, Gone Beyond, Gone beyond the beyond, Awake, Well Said.

Gone, Gone, Gone Beyond, Gone beyond the beyond, Awake, Well Said.

Gone, Gone, Gone Beyond, Gone beyond the beyond, Awake, Well Said.

---translated by Kazuaki Tanahashi and Joan Halifax---