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The most popular Buddhist text in the Mahayana Buddhist countries is the Heart Sutra, known for its brevity and depth of meaning. It carries the same importance as Gayatri mantra in India or the Lord’s Prayer in Christianity. It was translated by Xuan-Zang  the scholar explorer who followed the silk road to India, under the patronage of T’ang emperors, in 7th century. Xuan-Zang brought 600 sacred Sanskrit texts from India to China over the silk road. In China he is always depicted as carrying a load of books on his back and is worshipped in the temples today.

The Mantra of the Heart Sutra:

Gate(pronounced ga-tay) gate paara-gate paara-sangate bodhi svaahaa.

Devanāgarī Translation

गते गते                           Gone, gone
पारगते                           Gone beyond
पारसंगते               Gone completely beyond
बोधि स्वाहा                  Praise to awakening.

Close your lips and recite only with the tongue moving. Next, do not move the tongue, rest the vocal chords and only remember the mantra in the mind. Now, keeping the mantra in the mind, feel the breath flow in the nostrils. Next the
mantra is remembered only in the mind.

With thanks to Swami Veda Barahti. Visit www.swamiveda.org