The Heart Sutra

Please enjoy this comparison of various English translations of the Heart Sūtra.

List of translations (arbitrary order). Please use the checkboxes to show/hide translations:

Homage

Homage to the Bhagavatī Prajñāpāramitā! (Adam Pearcey)

I prostrate to the Arya Triple Gem. (George Churinoff)

Part 1

Thus have I heard. (Adam Pearcey)

Thus did I hear at one time. (George Churinoff)

These words have I heard. (Alexander Berzin)

Thus have I once heard: (lamrim.com)

Thus I have heard: (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 2

At one time the Blessed One was dwelling in Rājgṛha at Vulture Peak mountain,
together with a great community of monks and a great community of bodhisattvas. (Adam Pearcey)

The Bhagavan was dwelling on Mass of Vultures Mountain in Rajagriha
together with a great community of monks and a great community of bodhisattvas. (George Churinoff)

At one time, the Vanquishing Master Surpassing All was dwelling at Vulture Peak Mountain, by the Royal City of Rajagriha,
together with a great assembly of the monastic sangha and a great assembly of the bodhisattva sangha. (Alexander Berzin)

The Blessed One was staying in Rajagrha at Vulture Peak
along with a great community of monks and great community of bodhisattvas, (lamrim.com)

at one time, the Blessed One was dwelling in Rajagriha on Vulture’s Mountain
together in one method with a great assembly of monastics and a great assembly of bodhisattvas. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 3

At that time, the Blessed One entered an absorption on categories of phenomena called ‘perception of the profound’. (Adam Pearcey)

At that time, the Bhagavan was absorbed in the concentration on the categories of phenomena called Profound Perception. (George Churinoff)

At that time, the Vanquishing Master Surpassing All was totally absorbed in the absorbed concentration that expresses the multiplicity of phenomena, known as the appearance of the profound. (Alexander Berzin)

and at that time, the Blessed One fully entered the meditative concentration on the varieties of phenomena called the Appearance of the Profound. (lamrim.com)

At that time, the Blessed One was absorbed in the concentration of the countless aspects of phenomena called Profound Illumination. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 4

At the same time, noble Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva and great being,
beheld the practice of the the profound perfection of wisdom,
and saw that the five aggregates are empty of nature. (Adam Pearcey)

Also, at that time, the bodhisattva mahasattva arya Avalokiteshvara
looked upon the very practice of the profound perfection of wisdom
and beheld those five aggregates also as empty of inherent nature. (George Churinoff)

Also at that time, the bodhisattva great-minded mahasattva, the Arya Avalokiteshvara, the Powerful Lord Beholding All Around,
conducting his behavior in profound and far-reaching discriminating awareness, was beholding all around, in detail, like this:
He was beholding all around, in detail, the five aggregate factors of his experience and even those as devoid of self-establishing nature. (Alexander Berzin)

At that very time as well, holy Avalokitsevara, the bodhisattva, the great being,
beheld the practice itself of the profound perfection of wisdom,
and he even saw the five aggregates as empty of inherent nature. (lamrim.com)

At that time also Superior Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva, the great being,
was looking perfectly at the practice of the profound perfection of wisdom,
perfectly looking at the emptiness of inherent existence of the five aggregates also. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 5

Then, through the Buddha's power, venerable Śāriputra
said to noble Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva and great being: (Adam Pearcey)

Then, through the power of Buddha, the venerable Shariputra
said this to the bodhisattva mahasattva arya Avalokiteshvara: (George Churinoff)

Then, through the might of the Buddha, the venerable Shariputra
addressed these words to the bodhisattva great-minded mahasattva, the Arya Avalokiteshvara: (Alexander Berzin)

Thereupon, through the Buddha's inspiration, the venerable Sariputra
spoke to holy Avalokitsevara, the bodhisattva, the great being, and said, (lamrim.com)

Then, through the power of the Buddha, Venerable Shariputra
said to Superior Avalokitveshvara, the bodhisattva, the great being, (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 6

How should a child of noble family who wishes to practise the profound perfection of wisdom train? (Adam Pearcey)

How should any son of the lineage train who wishes to practice the activity of the profound perfection of wisdom? (George Churinoff)

How does any spiritual child with the (Buddha) family traits need to train, who wishes to conduct his or her behavior in profound and far-reaching discriminating awareness? (Alexander Berzin)

Any noble son who wishes to engage in the practice of the profound perfection of wisdom should train in what way? (lamrim.com)

How should a child of the lineage train who wishes to engage in the practice of the profound perfection of wisdom? (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 7

This is what he said, and the noble Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva and great being,
replied to venerable Śāriputra as follows: (Adam Pearcey)

He said that, and the bodhisattva mahasattva arya Avalokiteshvara
said this to the venerable Sharadvatiputra. (George Churinoff)

Addressed like that, the bodhisattva great-minded mahasattva, the Arya Avalokiteshvara,
addressed these words to the venerable Son of Sharadvati, (Alexander Berzin)

When this had been said, holy Avalokitsevara, the bodhisattva, the great being,
spoke to venerable Sariputra and said, (lamrim.com)

Thus he spoke, and Superior Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva, the great being,
replied to Venerable Shariputra as follows, (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 8

O Śāriputra, a son of noble family or daughter of noble family
who wishes to practise the profound perfection of wisdom
should regard things in this way:
they should see the five aggregates to be empty of nature. (Adam Pearcey)

Shariputra, any son of the lineage or daughter of the lineage
who wishes to practice the activity of the profound perfection of wisdom
should look upon it like this,
correctly and repeatedly beholding those five aggregates also as empty of inherent nature. (George Churinoff)

O Shariputra, any spiritual son with the family traits or spiritual daughter with the family traits,
who wishes to conduct his or her behavior in profound and far-reaching discriminating awareness,
needs to behold all around, in detail, like this:
He or she needs to keep in view, fully and in detail, the five aggregate factors of his or her experience and those too as devoid of a self-establishing nature. (Alexander Berzin)

Sariputra, any noble sons or daughters
who wish to practice the perfection of wisdom
should see this way:
they should see insightfully, correctly, and repeatedly that even the five aggregates are empty of inherent nature. (lamrim.com)

Shariputra, whatever son or daughter of the lineage
wishes to engage in the practice of the profound perfection of wisdom
should look perfectly like this:
subsequently looking perfectly and correctly at the emptiness of inherent existence of the five aggregates also. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 9

Form is empty;
emptiness is form.
Emptiness is not other than form;
form is not other than emptiness. (Adam Pearcey)

Form is empty.
Emptiness is form.
Emptiness is not other than form;
form is also not other than emptiness. (George Churinoff)

Form – voidness;
voidness – form.
Form not separate from voidness;
voidness not separate from form.
(What has form, that has voidness; what has voidness, that has form.) (Alexander Berzin)

Form is empty,
emptiness is form,
Emptiness is not other than form,
form is also not other than emptiness. (lamrim.com)

Form is empty;
emptiness is form.
Emptiness is not other than form;
form also is not other than emptiness. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 10

In the same way,
sensation,
recognition,
conditioning factors,
and consciousness are emptiness. (Adam Pearcey)

In the same way,
feeling,
discrimination,
compositional factors,
and consciousness are empty. (George Churinoff)

Similarly,
feeling,
distinguishing,
affecting variables,
types of consciousness – voidness. (Alexander Berzin)

Likewise,
sensation,
discrimination,
conditioning,
and awareness are empty. (lamrim.com)

Likewise,
feeling,
discrimination,
compositional factors
and consciousness are empty. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 11

Therefore, Śāriputra,
all dharmas are emptiness;
they are without characteristics;
they are unarisen and unceasing;
they are not tainted and not untainted;
they are not deficient and not complete. (Adam Pearcey)

Shariputra, likewise,
all phenomena are emptiness;
without characteristic;
unproduced, unceased;
stainless, not without stain;
not deficient, not fulfilled. (George Churinoff)

It’s like that, Shariputra,
with all phenomena – voidness:
no defining characteristics,
no arising, no stopping,
no being stained, no being parted from stain,
no being deficient, no being additional. (Alexander Berzin)

In this way, Sariputra,
all things are emptiness;
they are without defining characteristics;
they are not born, they do not cease,
they are not defiled, they are not undefiled.
They have no increase, they have no decrease. (lamrim.com)

Shariputra, like this
all phenomena are merely empty,
having no characteristics.
They are not produced and do not cease.
They have no defilement and no separation from defilement.
They have no decrease and no increase. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 12

Therefore, Śāriputra, in emptiness, there is
no form,
no sensation,
no recognition,
no conditioning factors,
no consciousness; (Adam Pearcey)

Shariputra, therefore, in emptiness
there is no form,
no feeling,
no discrimination,
no compositional factors,
no consciousness; (George Churinoff)

Because it’s like that, Shariputra, in voidness,
no form,
no feeling,
no distinction,
no affecting variables,
no kind of consciousness. (Alexander Berzin)

Therefore, Sariputra, in emptiness
there is no form,
no sensation,
no discrimination,
no conditioning,
and no awareness. (lamrim.com)

Therefore, Shariputra, in emptiness there is
no form,
no feeling,
no discrimination,
no compositional factors,
no consciousness. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 13

no eye, no ear, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind;
no visible form, no sound, no odour, no taste, no texture and no mental objects; (Adam Pearcey)

no eye, no ear, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind;
no visual form, no sound, no odor, no taste, no object of touch, and no phenomenon. (George Churinoff)

No eye, no ear, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind.
No sight, no sound, no smell, no taste, no physical sensation, no phenomena. (Alexander Berzin)

There is no eye, no ear, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind.
There is no form, no sound, no smell, no taste, no texture, no phenomenon. (lamrim.com)

There is no eye, no ear, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind;
no form, no sound, no smell, no taste, no tactile object, no phenomenon. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 14

there is no eye element up to no mind element
and as far as no mental consciousness element; (Adam Pearcey)

There is no eye element and so on up to and including no mind element
and no mental consciousness element. (George Churinoff)

No cognitive source that’s an eye, up to no cognitive source that’s a mind,
(no cognitive source that’s phenomena),
no cognitive source that’s mental consciousness. (Alexander Berzin)

There is no eye-element and so on up to no mind-element
and also up to no element of mental awareness. (lamrim.com)

There is no eye element and so forth up to no mind element
and also up to no element of mental consciousness. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 15

there is no ignorance,
no extinction of ignorance
up to no old age and death,
no extinction of old age and death. (Adam Pearcey)

There is no ignorance,
no extinction of ignorance, and so on
up to and including no aging and death
and no extinction of aging and death. (George Churinoff)

No unawareness,
no elimination of unawareness,
up to no aging and death,
no elimination of aging and death. (Alexander Berzin)

There is no ignorance
and no elimination of ignorance
and so on up to no aging and death
and no elimination of aging and death. (lamrim.com)

There is no ignorance
and no exhaustion of ignorance,
and so forth up to no aging and death
and no exhaustion of aging and death. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 16

Likewise, there is
no suffering, no origin, no cessation and no path,
no wisdom, no attainment, and no non-attainment. (Adam Pearcey)

Similarly, there is no suffering, origination, cessation, and path;
there is no exalted wisdom, no attainment, and also no non-attainment. (George Churinoff)

Likewise,
no suffering, cause, stopping, and pathway mind.
No deep awareness, no attainment, no non-attainment. (Alexander Berzin)

Likewise, there is
no suffering, origin, cessation, or path;
there is no wisdom, no attainment, and even no non-attainment. (lamrim.com)

Likewise, there is
no suffering, origin, cessation or path;
no exalted wisdom, no attainment and also no non-attainment. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 17

Therefore, Śāriputra, since bodhisattvas have no attainment,
they rely on and abide by the perfection of wisdom. (Adam Pearcey)

Shariputra, therefore, because there is no attainment,
bodhisattvas rely on and dwell in the perfection of wisdom, (George Churinoff)

Because it’s like that, Shariputra, through there being no attainment of bodhisattvas,
he (or she) lives, relying on far-reaching discriminating awareness, with no mental obscuration. (Alexander Berzin)

Therefore, Sariputra, since the bodhisattvas have no obtainments,
they abide relying on the perfection of wisdom. (lamrim.com)

Therefore Shariputra, because there is no attainment,
bodhisattvas rely on and abide in the perfection of wisdom; (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 18

Since their minds are unobscured,
they have no fear. (Adam Pearcey)

the mind without obscuration
and without fear. (George Churinoff)

(Because of there being no mental obscuration,)
there is no fear, (Alexander Berzin)

Having no defilements in their minds,
they have no fear, (lamrim.com)

their minds have no obstructions
and no fear. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 19

They completely transcend error
and reach the ultimate nirvāṇa. (Adam Pearcey)

Having completely passed beyond error,
they reach the end-point of nirvana. (George Churinoff)

gone beyond what’s reversed,
(thus) nirvana release, complete to the end. (Alexander Berzin)

and passing completely beyond error,
they reach nirvana. (lamrim.com)

Passing utterly beyond perversity,
they attain the final state beyond sorrow. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 20

All the buddhas throughout the three times fully awaken to
unsurpassed, genuine and complete enlightenment
by means of the perfection of wisdom. (Adam Pearcey)

All the buddhas who dwell in the three times also manifestly, completely awaken to
unsurpassable, perfect, complete enlightenment
in reliance on the perfection of wisdom. (George Churinoff)

In fact, it’s by relying on far-reaching discriminating awareness
that all Buddhas arrayed throughout the three times
are full manifest Buddhas in peerless and perfect full Buddhahood. (Alexander Berzin)

Likewise, all the Buddhas abiding in the three times clearly and completely awaken to
unexcelled, authentic, and complete awakening
in dependence upon the perfection of wisdom. (lamrim.com)

Also, all the Buddhas who perfectly reside in the three times,
relying upon the perfection of wisdom,
become manifest and complete Buddhas in the state of unsurpassed, perfect and complete awakening. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 21

Therefore, the mantra of the perfection of wisdom —
the mantra of great insight,
the unsurpassed mantra,
the mantra that equals the unequalled,
the mantra that pacifies all suffering —
is not false and should thus be understood as true. (Adam Pearcey)

Therefore, the mantra of the perfection of wisdom,
the mantra of great knowledge,
the unsurpassed mantra,
the mantra equal to the unequaled,
the mantra that thoroughly pacifies all suffering,
should be known as truth since it is not false. (George Churinoff)

Because it’s like that, far-reaching discriminating awareness is the (great) mind-protecting mantra,
the mind-protecting mantra of great knowledge,
the mind-protecting mantra that’s unsurpassed,
the mind-protecting mantra equal to the unequaled,
the mind-protecting mantra completely stilling all suffering.
Because of its being not deceitful, it’s to be known as the truth. (Alexander Berzin)

Therefore, one should know that the mantra of the perfection of wisdom -
the mantra of great knowledge,
the precious mantra,
the unexcelled mantra,
the mantra equal to the unequalled,
the mantra that quells all suffering -
is true because it is not deceptive. (lamrim.com)

Therefore, the mantra of the perfection of wisdom,
the mantra of great knowledge,
the unsurpassed mantra,
the equal-to-the-unequalled mantra,
the mantra that thoroughly pacifies all suffering,
since it is not false, should be known as the truth. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 22

The mantra of the perfection of wisdom is proclaimed as follows: (Adam Pearcey)

The mantra of the perfection of wisdom is declared: (George Churinoff)

In far-reaching discriminating awareness, the mind-protecting mantra has been proclaimed, (Alexander Berzin)

The mantra of the perfection of wisdom is proclaimed: (lamrim.com)

The mantra of the perfection of wisdom is proclaimed: (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 23

[oṃ] gate gate pāragate pārasaṃgate bodhisvāhā. (Adam Pearcey)

TADYATHA [OM] GATE GATE PARAGATE PARASAMGATE BODHI SVAHA (George Churinoff)

‘Tadyatha, (om) gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha.
The actual nature: gone, gone, gone beyond, gone far-beyond, purified state, so be it.’ (Alexander Berzin)

tadyatha - gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha! (lamrim.com)

tayata gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi soha. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 24

Śāriputra, a bodhisattva and great being should train in the profound perfection of wisdom in this way. (Adam Pearcey)

Shariputra, the bodhisattva mahasattva should train in the profound perfection of wisdom like that. (George Churinoff)

O Shariputra, a bodhisattva great-minded mahasattva needs to train like that (for behavior that’s) in profound and far-reaching discriminating awareness. (Alexander Berzin)

Sariputra, a bodhisattva, a great being, should train in the profound perfection of wisdom in that way. (lamrim.com)

Shariputra, a bodhisattva, a great being, should train in the profound perfection of wisdom like this. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 25

Thereupon, the Blessed One
arose from that absorption
and commended Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva and great being: (Adam Pearcey)

Then the Bhagavan
arose from that concentration
and commended the bodhisattva mahasattva arya Avalokiteshvara saying: (George Churinoff)

Then the Vanquishing Master Surpassing All,
arising from that absorbed concentration,
gave his endorsement excellent to the bodhisattva great-minded mahasattva, the Arya Avalokiteshvara, (Alexander Berzin)

Thereupon, the Blessed One
arose for that meditative concentration,
and he commended holy Avalokitsevara, the bodhisattva, the great being. (lamrim.com)

Then the Blessed One
arose from that concentration
and said to Superior Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva, the great being, that he had spoken well. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 26

Excellent, excellent indeed, O son of noble family, that is how it is. That is just how it is.
One should practise the profound perfection of wisdom just as you have taught and then even the tathāgatas will rejoice. (Adam Pearcey)

Well said, well said, son of the lineage, it is like that. It is like that;
one should practice the profound perfection of wisdom just as you have indicated; even the tathagatas rejoice. (George Churinoff)

Excellent, excellent, my spiritual son with the family traits, it’s just like that.
It’s just like that that he or she needs to conduct (his or her behavior) in profound and far-reaching discriminating awareness. It’s exactly as it’s been shown by you for the bodhisattvas, (arhats, and Buddhas) to rejoice. (Alexander Berzin)

Excellent! he said. Excellent! Excellent! Noble child, it is just so. Noble child, it is just so.
One should practice the profound perfection of wisdom in the manner that you have revealed - the Tathagatas rejoice! (lamrim.com)

Good, good, O child of the lineage. It is like that. Since it is like that, just as you have revealed,
the profound perfection of wisdom should be practiced in that way, and the tathagatas will also rejoice. (thubtenchodron.org)

Part 27

When the Blessed One had said this,
venerable Śāriputra,
and noble Avalokiteśvara,
the bodhisattva and great being,
together with the whole assembly and the world of gods, human beings, asuras and gandharvas
rejoiced and praised the speech of the Blessed One. (Adam Pearcey)

The Bhagavan having thus spoken,
the venerable Sharadvatiputra,
the bodhisattva mahasattva arya Avalokiteshvara,
and those surrounding in their entirety along with the world of gods, humans, asuras, and gandharvas
were overjoyed and highly praised that spoken by the Bhagavan. (George Churinoff)

When the Vanquishing Master Surpassing All had pronounced those words,
the venerable Son of Sharadvati,
and the bodhisattva great-minded mahasattva, the Arya Avalokiteshvara,
and the pair of assemblies of those endowed with all, as well as the world – gods, humans, anti-gods, and gandharva heavenly musicians –
rejoicing, sang praises of what had been declared by the Vanquishing Master Surpassing All. (Alexander Berzin)

This is what the Blessed One said.
Thereupon, the venerable Sariputra,
the holy Avalokitsevara,
the bodhisattva, the great being,
and that entire assembly along with the world of gods, humans, asuras, and gandharvas,
all rejoiced and highly praised what the Blessed One had said. (lamrim.com)

When the Blessed One had said this,
Venerable Shariputra,
Superior Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva, the great being,
and that entire assembly of disciples as well as the worldly beings—gods, humans, demi-gods and spirits —
were delighted and highly praised
what had been spoken by the Blessed One. (thubtenchodron.org)

Colophon

Thus concludes the Mahāyāna Sūtra of the Blessed Mother, the Heart of the Transcendent Perfection of Wisdom. (Adam Pearcey)

This completes the Ārya-bhagavatī-prajñāpāramitā-hŗidaya-sūtra . (George Churinoff)

Remarks

Translated by Adam Pearcey, 2019. (Adam Pearcey)

Translated from the Tibetan, consulting the Indian and Tibetan commentaries and previous good translations, by Gelong Thubten Tsultrim (George Churinoff), the first day of Saka Dawa, 1999, at Tushita Meditati on Centre, Dharamsala, India. Amended March 8, 2001, in the New Mexico desert. (George Churinoff)

Translated by Alexander Berzin (Alexander Berzin)