Resonance of Prajñāpāramitā

"Translating these words as “in the very vivid presence, the moment the Noble Awakened Being deeply immersed in the Perfect All-Transcendent Wisdom, he thoroughly penetrated all five aggregates, and had a lucid, direct knowing of their essence as being Void" means that we have been emancipated from the very first sentence! As such, the content of the Prajñāpāramitā text is now describing something very transcendental at the wisdom level of an expert, realized practitioner. The contextual meaning has been brought to a highly specialized level in Buddhism, and is no longer simply a theory of the mind as it has mostly been depicted in the past. 

Therefore, after we finished editing this rendition in the summer of 2019 according to our aspiration, I said that since I was very content with this Buddhist work, and had I passed away right then, I would still feel perfectly complete, because in this lifetime, I was able to contribute such a rendition of this marvelous scripture to the world of Buddhism." 

Quote from Zen Master THÍCH TUỆ HẢI

(Photo of Zen Master Thích Tuệ Hải with the calligraphy rock carver, Chính Thiện)

As far as the Essence of Prajñāpāramitā (Core Essence of the Perfect All-Transcendent Wisdom) scripture is concerned, Zen Master Thích Tuệ Hải has been single-minded to take on the argument that there is so much more we can learn from this scripture than simply presenting it as an abstract discourse and solely relying on the theoretical abstruse aspects of emptiness as it has been taken for granted for generations. Such an approach will only give us theoretical and analytical answers, and will not allow us to fathom the perfect truth – the utter emancipation which the realized masters have reached, and we, too, are aspired to reach. Through his meditative absorption and wisdom insight, Zen Master Thích Tuệ Hải single-mindedly wants to bring out from this scripture is the experiential aspects of true realization of the state of pure Voidness or true existence in the very vivid presence, which, for so long, have been avoided or neglected in contemporary discourses on the so-called Heart Sutra.

So in short, after being equipped with the fundamental recognition of emptiness, the practitioners can further penetrate and go beyond their own five aggregates which themselves are empty of independent, self-nature. Then, the practitioners continue to expand the subtle mind and its state to surpass its own conscious loftiness and vastness until there is no more mind, no more person, and no more self – a state of total self-clarity and total self-simplicity, where “Void is exactly form and form is exactly Void.” It is the state of noumenal Voidness in the very vivid presence, devoid of all interdependent phenomena, characteristic signs, as well as time and space, the state of perfect awakening where there only exists the universal totality all-pervasive spacious wisdom beyond mind itself. This is exactly the understanding, the insights and the realization that Zen Master Thích Tuệ Hải, would like for all of us, devoted Buddhists, aspiring Buddhists, concerned students of Buddhism, even those who are considered non-Buddhists, in the world, to undeviatingly reap from this scripture. 

A BRIEF HISTORY

In accordance with the instructions of her kind Root Teacher, Zen Master Thích Tuệ Hải, Milam Sudhana, together with the great assistance of Eng Jin Ooi and Ratna Siddhārtha Dhyāna, respectfully rendered the root text of the Essence of Prajñāpāramitā from Sanskrit into Vietnamese based on the original palm-leaf Sanskrit text from the Hōryū-ji Temple, cross-referencing with other Sanskrit-English translations.

The Vietnamese version was edited and enhanced by Zen Master Thích Tuệ Hải on August 8, 2019, and Master Tuệ Hải gave commentary on the root text for the first time in August 2019 during the Tranquil Dwelling Season at Long Hương Temple, Vietnam. The Vietnamese version was slightly re-edited by Master Thích Tuệ Hải on May 26, 2023.

Thereafter, Milam Sudhana rendered the English translation based on both the Hōryū-ji version as well as the Vietnamese edited version by Master Thích Tuệ Hải. The English rendition of the root text includes suggestions from Thiện Thành, Tenzin Drolma, Ratna Siddhārtha Dhyāna and Nguyên Mai. Subsequently, the commentary by Master Thích Tuệ Hải was compiled and translated into English by Milam Sudhana between September 2021 and June 2023, and edited by Oliver K. Luu. 

As requested by the Vietnamese Translator, Milam Sudhana, I am pleased to present this introduction to the commentary book, Essence of Prajnaparamita (the Heart Sutra), as taught by Zen Master Thich Tue Hai. 

Essence of Prajnaparamita offers a profound perspective on the Heart Sutra, a central text in Mahayana Buddhism known for its teachings on emptiness and ultimate truth. Through an approach that integrates the sacred view of the ultimate reality in Buddhism with Vietnamese Zen, Master Thich Tue Hai offers fresh insight into the wisdom of the Heart Sutra.

May this work inspire readers to move beyond intellectual understanding, inviting them to more directly experience wisdom and compassion. By bridging Buddhist traditions, Essence of Prajnaparamita serves as a valuable guide for those seeking inner freedom and the true essence of Dharma.

Yours in the Holy Dharma,

The Twelfth Kenting Tai Situpa

The Supreme Head of the Palpung Institution of the Buddhism

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