When the Bodhisattva Guanzizai (Guanshiyin) was moving in the deep course of the Perfection of Wisdom, she saw that the five heaps (physical phenomena related to the senses, sensation or reception from stimuli, discernment or perception, decision or volition, and cognition and consciousness) were but emptiness, and she transcended all sufferings. Sariputra, form is no different from emptiness, emptiness no different from form; form is emptiness, and emptiness is form. Of sensations, perceptions, volition, and consciousness, the same is also true. Sariputra, it is thus that all dharmas are but empty appearances, neither produced nor destroyed, neither defiled nor pure, neither increasing nor decreasing. This is why in emptiness there are no forms and no sensations, perceptions, volition, or consciousness; no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no form, sound, smell, taste, touch, or object of mind. There is no realm of sight (and so forth), until we reach the realm of no mind-consciousness; there is no ignorance, nor is there extinction of ignorance (and so forth) until we reach the stage where there is no old age and death, nor is there the extinction of old age and death; there is no suffering, annihilation, or way; there is no cognition or attainment. Because there is nothing to be attained, the mind of the Bodhisattva, by virtue of reliance upon the Perfection of Wisdom, has no hindrances: no hindrances, and therefore, no terror or fear; he is far removed from error and delusion, and finally reaches Nirvana. All the Buddhas of the three worlds (the past, present, and future ones) rely on the Perfection of Wisdom, and that is why they attain the ultimate and complete enlightenment. Know, therefore, that the Perfection of Wisdom is a great divine spell, a spell of great illumination, a spell without superior, and a spell without equal. It can do away with all sufferings—such is the unvarnished truth. Therefore, when the Spell of the Perfection of Wisdom is to be spoken, say this spell: “Gate! Gate! Paragate! Parasamgate! Bodhisvaha! (“Gone, gone, gone beyond, completely gone beyond! O what an awakening! All hail!”).
cape kiwanda, oregon coast
