“Therefore, Shariputra, because there is no attainment, Bodhisattvas abide relying on the Perfection of Wisdom, without obscuration of thought, and so they are unafraid. Transcending perverted views, they attain the end, Nirvana.”
“All Buddhas existing in the three times, relying on the Perfection of Wisdom, fully awaken to the highest, perfect Enlightenment.” “Therefore, one should know that the mantra of the Prajnaparamita is the mantra of great knowledge, the highest mantra, the unequalled mantra, the mantra that ends all suffering, the Truth, since it has nothing wrong. The mantra of the Prajnaparamita is proclaimed:
Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi, Svaha
The secret key to the Heart Sutra: Nothing grasped, nothing attained. When united with the Bodhi-Mind there is no-thing to perceive or conceive; this is known as being placed in the sacred sanctuary of the Bodhimandala, thus the Heart Sutra’s Supreme and Unequalled Prajñāpāramitā-Mantra. The beauty of its secret-import is that it perfectly serves both mundane supplications and the transcendent Self-Realization of Noble Wisdom. Chanted daily by millions of supplicants its salvific-power does not differentiate nor discriminate. When attuned to with a pure-heart and mind one is protected from legions of Mara’s best and empowers one to overcome all obstacles. It is best explained thus:
“It is the mantra that completely pacifies all sufferings because reciting the perfection of wisdom, bearing it in mind properly, and explaining it to others destroys all diseases and brings one under the protection of Buddhas, deities, and nāgas, and practicing the perfection of wisdom overturns the bad realms and the entire ocean of samsara.” (Donald Lopez Jr, ibid, pg.110)
Like the Lankavatara Sutra, the Heart Sutra’s Dhāranī rests side by side those few Sutras that contain such protective evocations. The mantra essentially translates as, “Gone, gone, gone beyond, gone completely beyond, enlightenment.” What is its salient meaning? Vajarpāni commentates:
“Gate, gate, “gone, gone” [means] all mindfulness has gone [to be) like illusions. Pāragate, “gone beyond,” [means] that beyond mindfulness, one goes beyond to emptiness. Pārasamgate, “gone completely beyond,” [means] that beyond the illusion-like and emptiness, one goes beyond to signlessness. Bodhi svāhā, “become enlightened,” [means] that having purified the afflictions and all objects of knowledge, one transcends awareness.” (ibid, pg.112)
It’s as if blessed Avalokiteśvara is saying, “Proceed, proceed, proceed beyond, proceed completely beyond, BE AS ONE with the Bodhi-Mind.” All phenomenal vexations are thus extinguished. It’s as if one is transported high-above the samsaric realms of Māra’s influence. Even Māra himself is held spellbound by the Sacred Dhāranī; in effect, he is forced to uphold the Blessed Prajñāpāramitā Itself. Traditionally this is illustrated in the following manner (notice how he’s holding-up the Prajñāpāramitā as symbolically represented by the sacred-nāga protecting the Mani-Pearl of Noble Wisdom):
As mentioned previously, I have discerned that chanting the Sacred Bodhi-Mantra is best just before retiring for the evening. It’s “Cosmic” in scope…as all formal-dimensions fade-way into the imageless domain of the Tathagatas.