The Heart Sutra
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva* when practicing deeply the Prajna Paramita[1] perceives that all five skandhas[2] are empty and is saved from all suffering and distress.
Shariputra,[3] form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form. That which is form is emptiness, that which is emptiness form. The same is true of feelings, perceptions, impulses, consciousness.
Shariputra, all dharmas[4] are marked with emptiness, they do not appear or disappear, are not tainted or pure, do not increase or decrease. Therefore in emptiness no form, no feelings, perceptions, impulses, consciousness. No eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind. No color, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch, no object of mind, no realm of eyes and so forth until no realm of mind consciousness.
No ignorance and also no extinction of it and so forth until no old age and death and also no extinction of them. No suffering, no origination. No stopping, no path, no cognition. Also no attainment with nothing to attain; the Bodhisattva depends on Prajna Paramita and his mind is no hindrance. Without any hindrance, no fears exist. Far apart from every perverted view he dwells in Nirvana.[5]
In the three worlds[6] all Buddhas depend on Prajna Paramita and attain Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi,[7] therefore know that Prajna Paramita is the great transcendent mantra, is the great bright mantra, is the utmost mantra, is the supreme mantra, which is able to relieve all suffering and is true not false.
So proclaim the Prajna Paramita mantra, proclaim the mantra which says; * Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva; a great disciple of the Buddha, also know variously as: Bodhisattva Perceiver of the Worlds Cries, Guan Yin, Kwan Yin, Kannon, Kanzeon, and Chenrezig among other identities. Avalokitesvara is the subject of discussion in the Surangama Sutra.
[1] Prajna Paramita means "Perfection of Widsom", or "Perfect Wisdom".
[2] skandhas means literally "heaps" - in this sense it can be thought of as the senses; sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing, and thought.
[3] Shariputra is another great disciple of the Buddha, he is being taught by Avalokitesvara here about Sunyata (emptiness).
[4] dharmas, when written with a lower case d, means "things" or "phenomena".
[5] Nirvana is the Buddhist term for reality, as opposed to Samsara, which is the illusory world in which we normally exist; deluded by the ego. Nirvana is reality perceived directly and without the judgemental interpretations of ego. It's Buddhist heaven.
[6] the "three worlds" here refers to past, present, and future.
[7] Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi... whew, there's a biggie! This means "Complete Self-Realized Liberation".
[8] Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha translates like this:
(Gate)Gone, (Gate)Gone, (Paragate)Gone beyond, (Parasamgate)Everyone Gone Completely Beyond, (Bodhi)Awake, (Svaha)Hooray! Oh, and by the way, Gate is pronounced Gah-tay.
Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha;[8]
Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha;
Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha;