英語訳
**[Page Eight]**
**[Upper section]**
Upon that bodhi-mind, there should be the meaning of having compassion for sentient beings. Fourth, possessing practical activities is called supreme activity. What is practiced does not become empty but achieves accomplishment. If one attempts but does not complete the work, it is not the karma of reaching the other shore. Fifth, being embraced by signless wisdom is called supreme skillful means. What is practiced while abiding in a mind with characteristics, not separating from attachment, does not accomplish the karma of reaching the other shore. One must be embraced by signless wisdom to accomplish pāramitā. Sixth, dedicating to bodhi is called supreme dedication. With what is practiced, one must dedicate to unsurpassed bodhi. Without using dedication, that good does not produce fruit. Therefore, when dedicating to bodhi, one accomplishes the fruit of reaching the other shore. Seventh, not being mixed with the two obstructions is called supreme purity. Not being mixed with the two obstructions means practicing without regretful mind during the three times of preparatory, fundamental, and subsequent practices. This is called non-mixture. Because it is not mixed, it is pure. Therefore, one accomplishes the fruit of reaching the other shore.
"If one practices wisdom and others... does not reach the other shore" means that among the previous seven supreme qualities, lacking even one is not the fruit of reaching the other shore. If one temporarily possesses all seven, one accomplishes the fruit of reaching the other shore.
"This exists in the first eon... hence raises the common name" means that the practice of the second eon, because it is close to Buddha-fruit, is called near-pāramitā. The practice of the third eon, because the closeness is vast, is called great-pāramitā. Buddha-fruit is not called either near or great, hence it is said to have no different designation. Therefore, it is only called pāramitā. Because it is a name common to both cause and effect, it is said to raise the common name.
"Heart means solid and real... hence all are omitted" - having finished explaining prajñāpāramitā above, now below
**[Lower section]**
the word "heart" is explained. Heart has two meanings: first, the mind of perception and consideration; second, the true and real mind. The mind of perception and consideration exists only in sentient beings. The true and real mind pervades all dharmas - sentient beings, non-sentient beings, etc. The present Heart Sūtra refers to the true and real mind. "Solid, real, wonderful, and supreme" is probably the meaning of true and real. That is, the truth and reality of the Great Prajñāpāramitā. The Great Prajñāpāramitā is explained in sixteen assemblies, and because it is taught according to capacity, the text and meaning are extensive. When practitioners receive, uphold, transmit, and study it, some can bear it, while others generate timidity and retreat. The "sages who transmit the Dharma" are Maitreya, Mañjuśrī, Ānanda, and others. To enable those sentient beings of inferior capacity who generate timidity and retreat to know the meaning of prajñā, they extracted the truth and reality from the Great Prajñāpāramitā and circulated it as a small volume of one scroll. The three divisions are introduction, main body, and circulation. The two introductions are general introduction and specific introduction. Among the three divisions, only the main doctrine exists; there are no introduction and circulation sections. Because there is no introduction section, there are no two introductions. This is because the introduction is divided into general and specific introductions.
"Selecting and synthesizing the subtle... marking the true mind as the designation" - "subtle" means the truth and reality of things. "Comprehensive essentials" means the fundamental basis of things. "Though phenomena are myriad forms" means that what the great sūtra clarifies - though the Dharma gates are boundless, they are all unified in making the single word "form" empty. Also, the bodhisattva path clarified in the sūtra, though immeasurable, reveals all bodhisattva practices with the single phrase "no wisdom and no attainment." "Extensive text" refers to the text of the Great Prajñāpāramitā. "Secret purport" refers to the hidden doctrine. The present Heart Sūtra, being the vital essence of the great sūtra, is called the secret purport. "Marking the true mind as the designation" means making that vital essence the name of the present sūtra.
"Sūtra means... constant norm" explains the meaning of sūtra. It is the standard teaching that ferries the wonderful principle of prajñā's truth and reality. Making deluded sentient beings realize prajñā's truth and reality, making them become Buddha by depending on prajñā's truth and reality, and making them expound prajñā's truth and reality - this guides deluded sentient beings as a constant norm. The present sūtra is named "Heart" to reveal this meaning.
**[Page Nine]**
**[Upper section]**
"Wishing to enable realization... hence taking heart as the cause" gives the various reasons for naming it the Heart Sūtra. Because it is a sūtra that enables sentient beings to realize prajñā's truth and reality, it is named Heart Sūtra. Because it is a sūtra that enables sentient beings to become Buddha by depending on prajñā's truth and reality, it is named Heart Sūtra. Because it is a sūtra that enables sentient beings to expound prajñā's truth and reality, it is named Heart Sūtra.
"Like the Yogācāra treatise... the Ten Stages and other sūtras" - this provides examples by matching them respectively to the designations of realization, dependence, and expounding.
Above concludes the title section.
The sūtra says: "Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva." The commentary says: "The advocates of supreme emptiness say... obtaining the two benefits" - the present advocates of supreme emptiness represent Bhāviveka's doctrinal position. Nāgārjuna and others, though their words speak of emptiness, their intention maintains the Middle Path, so they should be the same as the "those who accord with conditions" advocates. According to the supreme emptiness advocates' intention, the present sūtra is divided into two sections. The two attachments are self-attachment and dharma-attachment. The two emptinesses are self-emptiness and dharma-emptiness. The two dependencies are causal dependence and fruition dependence. The two benefits are the benefit of cutting off obstructions and defilements, and the benefit of attaining bodhi. Following this order, by depending on causal dependence and fruition dependence, one obtains these two benefits.
"The great sūtra says... the bodhisattva is called empty" - the present sūtra text of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva is understood as the section that breaks self-attachment and reveals self-emptiness. However, because the wording is brief, this meaning is difficult to reveal. Therefore, the extensive
**[Lower section]**
text of the great sūtra is cited as proof to make its meaning known.
"Hence marking the bodhisattva... thus explaining self-emptiness" - first citing proof, then revealing one's own interpretation. "Sentient being" means the meaning of person. Raising the person-essence of Avalokiteśvara and making it invisible means breaking self-attachment and revealing self-emptiness - this is how to understand the meaning.
"The advocates of according with conditions say... difficult to obtain supreme benefit" - "those who accord with conditions" refers to Dharmapāla Bodhisattva and others. According to this bodhisattva's intention, the main doctrine section of the present sūtra has three parts. The division of the text is as in the commentary. "Superior person" refers to Avalokiteśvara. Marking that Avalokiteśvara formerly practiced prajñā and saved all suffering and distress, he encourages and instructs Śāriputra to generate the [bodhi-]mind. "Responsive capacity" refers to Śāriputra. "Explaining principle" means explaining principles such as "form is precisely emptiness." By depending on learning prajñā, one cuts off obstructions and attains bodhi, hence it says "joyfully obtaining supreme benefit."
"Either first enabling refinement... later separating from suffering and complete realization" - dividing the text is as before. The initial "Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva... saves all suffering and distress" explains the three kinds of mind-refinement. Next, "Śāriputra... because there is nothing to be attained" explains removing the four types of obstructions. Later, "Bodhisattvas... to the end of the sūtra" is separating from suffering and complete realization.
"Refinement has three types... this is the first refinement" - the three kinds of mind-refinement are to counteract the three discouragements. The first refinement treats the discouragement of bodhi's vastness. It is also called the discouragement of one's own incapacity.
"Namely, hearing about bodhi... thus generating discouragement" - this describes the manner of refinement. Namely, we who are fully equipped