THE HEART SUTRA (ALTERNATIVE TRANSLATION)

 

Compassion hears the world cry out, 

Seeing the wisdom of what’s real—

All things and thoughts are nothing but relation—

And so frees all from suffering.  

 

Shariputra, this body is all relationship, relationship all this body, 

This body is nothing other than relationship, relationship nothing other than this body. 

Reactions, perceptions, predispositions and discriminations just the same

 

Shariputra, relation is the sole nature of all things and thoughts, 

Not birth or destruction, stain or purity, perfection or lack. 

Beyond relationship there is no body, 

No reaction, perception, predisposition, or discrimination,

No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind, 

No sight, sound, smell, taste, touch or thought. 

No separate eye and no separate discriminating mind

No cause of ignorance and so no end to ignorance

No old age and death and no end to old age and death

No truth of suffering, no truth of thirst, no truth of letting go, 

No path, no knowledge and no final goal. 

 

Because there is no goal to seek,  

Waking to compassion we live out this wisdom of what’s real,

Not turning from life as it is. Not turning from life we have no fear, 

And live beyond all views and all views of nirvana. 

All Buddhas past, present, and yet to come

Take refuge in this wisdom of what’s real, and so find complete and true awakening. 

This is highest mantra, the unique mantra, 

The cure for all suffering, the truth that is reality, 

 

So speak the mantra of the wisdom of reality:

 

Gaté, gaté, paragaté, parasamgaté, bodhi svaha!

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