A modern translation of the Heart Sutra, the most popular sutra among Japanese people

The Heart Sutra teaches that everything in this world is ``emptiness'' or ``nothing'' .

When people talk about emptiness or nothingness, some people may think that it means nihilism, which means that everything is empty .

It is true that if everything is impermanent and we are heading toward death, then living seems empty and meaningless. No matter what you accomplish, if it is empty or nothing, there is no point in pursuing it.

However, the Heart Sutra does not end with color is emptiness (all things are emptiness/nothingness).

After color soku ze ku, it is followed by ku soku ze color (various phenomena are created from emptiness or nothingness).

In other words, because it is empty and nothing, this world has infinite possibilities and shines abundantly.

Because of these, the Heart Sutra is not a nihilistic ideology, but rather contains a way of thinking that actively affirms life.

What is the Heart Sutra?

This is a sutra that shows the essence of the great wisdom to reach perfect enlightenment as preached by Buddha.

Original text of the Heart Sutra

Modern translation of the Heart Sutra

Bodhisattvas are precious beings who remain in this world to save others, even though they themselves are approaching the state of liberation through the practice of ascetic practices that lead to liberation.

Among the Bodhisattvas, Kannon Bodhisattva is especially known for being considerate of other people, and for having the power to freely see and try to save people.

This happened when the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara tried to study the path to enlightenment through deep insight.

Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva considered the ``Five Aggregates'' that are the functions of human cognition.

What is Goga?

①Iroki (visible)

②Uke (something that takes it as a stimulus)

③Thinking (envisioning an image from there)

④Gyoku (capturing the movement of the mind caused by it)

⑤ It consists of knowledge (establishing it as knowledge).

Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva realized that these cognitive functions are ``emptiness'' without substance.

Many people believe that the substances and phenomena that exist in this world have substance, and are attached to that idea.

However, by realizing that all five aggregates are empty, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva was able to overcome all suffering, hardship, and misfortune.

Human beings have been suffering since ancient times, and the purpose of religion is to liberate them from that suffering.

Suffering consists of the ``four sufferings'' consisting of birth, old age, illness, and death, and the ``four sufferings'' that are developed from these, but if we know that all cognitive functions are empty, we come to the conclusion that ``suffering itself does not exist.'' .

And if suffering does not exist, then there is no way to overcome suffering.

What we see is actually ``empty'' that has no substance, and that ``empty'' also has substance.

Color is empty, empty is color.

All beings and phenomena appear to have substance, but in reality they do not have substance.

On the other hand, it can be said that because there is no substance, the entire Shinra universe is created from the sky.

 People tend to get caught up in what they see and feel and assume that these things are real. And they don't even try to question those ideas.

 However, when we look at the true nature of the world with deep wisdom, we cannot help but think that all things are ``empty''.

 If all existence were empty without substance, nothing could be born or disappear. It neither increases nor decreases.

 People find value in something being born, purified, and increasing, but this in itself cannot happen.

 On the other hand, you don't have to worry about anything because it won't lose or get dirty.

 Since everything is empty, there are no sensory effects. There are no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind. There is no color, voice, scent, taste, touch, or even the workings of the mind.

All existence and perception are actually empty and nothing, so it is a mistake to think that they exist, and it is impossible to discern the true nature of the world if you are caught up in it. That's it.

Because we recognize everything as emptiness, there is no old age or death.

Also, since suffering itself does not exist, there is no need to overcome suffering to find peace of mind.

Since recognition and knowledge themselves do not exist, there is no need to get caught up in them. 

At the end of the day, the important thing is that everything is empty.

This can be called the ultimate teaching.

Bodhisattva beings reach enlightenment through their superior wisdom. Therefore, their minds are completely free and are not bound or hindered by anything.

Being free means there is nothing to fear.

Ordinary people are easily gripped by fear and become disturbed by it, but this does not happen to Bodhisattvas.

Bodhisattvas are not swayed by the false perceptions and delusions that are prevalent in this world, and maintain a certain distance from them. Therefore, you can reach the state of ultimate enlightenment.

This is the same thing that the Buddhas of the past who achieved enlightenment long before Shakyamuni Buddha did. The Buddhas of the past, the present Buddha (Shakyamuni), and the future Buddhas all realized the truth that all is emptiness, and thereby attained enlightenment.

All beings should follow the path walked by the Buddha in order to attain peace of mind. There is enlightenment, and there is only enlightenment.

The great wisdom that leads to enlightenment eliminates all suffering, is certain, and is not empty.

I will show you the mantra of great wisdom that will lead you to complete enlightenment.

“Hang Yi, Hang Yi, Hara Hang Tie, Hara Sangha Hang Tie, Bodhisattva Vega.”

(Gyatei, Gyatei, Hara Gyatei, Harasou Gyatei, Bojisowaka)

 By reciting this mantra, everyone will understand the principle of mind that Buddha has preached and understand that this world is all empty.

 Then, you can reach the state of Bodhisattva and manifest the world of Buddhahood in this world. Through this, all beings can attain complete enlightenment.

The sutra that conveys this precious principle of the heart is the ``Heart Sutra.''