The Heart of Prajna Paramita Sutra
“The Heart of Prajna Paramita Sutra”, or “Heart Sutra”, is a foundational sutra in Buddhism. Even though it is short and precise, “Heart Sutra” is the core, the essence, or the heart of Shakyamuni Buddha's teaching. This important sutra is recited daily by most of the temples in the world.
“Heart Sutra” is a summary of Buddha’s core teachings through the view of Emptiness, and it contradicts to the normal view of the reality perceived by the ordinary mind and the six senses. The sutra also explains how Bodhisattvas and Buddhas see the world and illustrate the path to enter Nirvana.
The key message of “Heart Sutra” is to eliminate negative obstructions in one’s mind because the ultimate reality is corrupted under the illusion of what one sees, hears, smells, tastes, touches and thinks.
When these obstructions have been removed, one will realize that everything in this world is impermanent and there is nothing called self-existent. In Buddhism, the true self-existence is simply a pure, unobstructed, undefined and infinite awareness, which is not abided or attached to any object or substance.
Even though “Heart Sutra” is one of the shortest sutras in Buddhism, it summaries all the key aspects of Shakyamuni Buddha’s teaching. Therefore, “Heart Sutra” is widely circulated and recited in the world.