The Conqueror was sitting on Vulture Mountain in Rajagriha with a great gathering of monks and a great gathering of bodhisattvas. At that time the Conqueror was absorbed in a samadhi on the enumerations of phenomena called “perception of the profound”. Also at that time the Bodhisattva, the Mahasattva Avalokitesvara was contemplating the deep meaning of the Profound Perfection of Wisdom and he saw that the five skandhas were all empty of inherent existence.
Then, by the power of the Buddha, the Venerable Sariputra said this to the Bodhisattva, the Mahasattva Avalokitesvara, “How should those of good lineage train, who wish to practice the Profound Perfection of Wisdom?”
The Bodhisattva, the Mahasattva Avalokitesvara said to the Venerable Sariputra, “Sariputra, sons and daughters of good lineage who wish to practice the Profound Perfection of Wisdom should view things in this way: they should correctly view the five skandhas also as empty of inherent existence.”
“O, Sariputra, form is none other than emptiness and emptiness is none other than form. Form is emptiness and emptiness is form. The same is true for feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness. Sariputra, all phenomena are characteristically empty, not created nor destroyed, neither tainted nor pure, without increase or decrease.”
“Therefore, Sariputra, in emptiness there are no forms, no feelings, no perceptions, no mental formations, no consciousness; no eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind; no form, no sound, no odor, no taste, no touch, no object of mind. There is no realm of eyes and so forth up to and including no mind consciousness. There is no ignorance and no extinction of ignorance and so forth up to and including no ageing and no death and also no extinction of ageing and death. There is no suffering, no origin, no cessation, and no path. There is no wisdom and no attainment, with nothing to attain.”
“Therefore, Sariputra, because bodhisattvas have nothing to attain, they rely on abiding in the Profound Perfection of Wisdom without mental hindrances. Because their minds are without hindrances they are without fear. Having passed completely beyond all errors they realize ultimate nirvana. All the buddhas of the three times have fully awakened into unsurpassed, complete enlightenment through relying on the Profound Perfection of Wisdom.”
“Therefore, the mantra of the Profound Perfection of Wisdom is the great mantra, the mantra of great knowledge, the unsurpassed mantra, the incomparable mantra, the mantra which thoroughly allays all suffering without fail. Because it is not false it is known as true. Hence, the mantra of the Profound Perfection of Wisdom is stated as
Tadyatha om gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha!
“Sariputra, bodhisattva mahasattvas should train in the Profound Perfection of Wisdom in just this way.”
Then the Conqueror rose from that samadhi and said to the Bodhisattva, the Mahasattva Avalokitesvara, “Well done, well done, well done, child of good lineage; it is just that way. The Profound Perfection of Wisdom should be practiced just as you have just taught it. Even the Tathagatas admire this.” The Conqueror, having thus spoken, the Venerable Sariputra, the Bodhisattva, the Mahasattva Avalokitesvara, all those gathered, and all those of the world, the gods, humans, demigods, and the gandharvas were filled with admiration and they all praised the Conqueror’s words.
