Before we go into the contents of the Heart Sutra,we must first understand that the Heart Sutra has the key concept of the 600 scrolls of the Maha Prajna Sutra.It also holds the central concept of the Diamond Sutra.
It has been translated into Chinese from Sanskrit by famous Master Xuan Zhuang.
Master Xuan Zhuang is a master of eminence.In Buddhism he is regarded as the religious Confucius.
He's famous for his works on the Heart Sutra,also on his philosophy of Mind-Only,and also the verses of the Eight Consciousnesses.
Today we'll be focusing on the first few lines of the Heart Sutra which is:When the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara is coursing in the deep Prajna,he saw that the five skandhas were empty.Thus he overcame all ills and suffering.
And exactly,who is Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva?
Most people would refer Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva,as the particular Bodhisattva,who is also known in Chinese as Guan Yin.This is not entirely correct because each and any one of us is also Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva.
Avalokiteshvara in Chinese is roughly translated into contemplation on carefreeness.Therefore,the question lies in whether each and every one of you,is able to look at this world with a mind that is carefree.If you can actually do that,you'll also become a bodhisattva who contemplates carefreeness.
If we were to go over the time and the things that happened in our lives,we'd realize that,yes,at some times we would experience happiness.But most of the other times they tend to be made up of suffering.