Venerable Toby Gillies day retreat at Gisborne.
The Heart Sutra: Meditations on Emptiness
I am just home from a day retreat with Toby at Gisborne.
Tired and with my head slightly spun around on its axis from contemplating emptiness. Clear as a bell. The teachings from Toby were like arrows... hitting the bull's eye.
Thank you.
Thank you.
The Heart Sutra
Heart of the Prajna-Paramita Sutra, also called Heart Sutra, is the shortest and the most popular sutra in Buddhism. The Heart Sutra is regarded as the summation of the wisdom of Buddha. It explains perfectly the teaching of non-attachment, which is essentially the doctrine of emptiness.
When Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is practising the profound Prajna-paramita,
He sees and illuminates to the emptiness of the five skandhas, and
Thus attains deliverance from all suffering.
Sariputra, matter is not different from emptiness, and
Emptiness is not different from matter.
Matter is emptiness and emptiness is matter.
So too are sensation, recognition, volition and consciousness.
Sariputra, the emptiness character of all dharmas,
neither arises nor ceases, is neither pure nor impure, and
neither increases nor decreases.
Therefore, in emptiness: there is no matter,
no sensation, recognition, volition or consciousness,
no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind,
no sight, sound, scent, taste, tangibles, or dharma,
no field of the eye up to no field of mental consciousness,
no suffering, no cause of suffering,
no ending of suffering, and no path,
no wisdom and also no attainment.
Because there is nothing obtainable.
Bodhisattvas through the reliance on Prajna-paramita
Have no attachment and hindrance in their minds.
Because there is no more attachment and hindrance,
There is no more fear, and
Far away from erroneous views and wishful-thinking,
Ultimately : The Final Nirvana.
Therefore, realize that Prajna-paramita
is the great wondrous mantra,
the great radiant mantra,
the unsurpassed mantra, and
the unequalled mantra.
It can eradicate all suffering, and
It is genuine and not false.
Therefore, utter the Prajna-paramita mantra -
Chant: Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhisvaha!
He sees and illuminates to the emptiness of the five skandhas, and
Thus attains deliverance from all suffering.
Sariputra, matter is not different from emptiness, and
Emptiness is not different from matter.
Matter is emptiness and emptiness is matter.
So too are sensation, recognition, volition and consciousness.
Sariputra, the emptiness character of all dharmas,
neither arises nor ceases, is neither pure nor impure, and
neither increases nor decreases.
Therefore, in emptiness: there is no matter,
no sensation, recognition, volition or consciousness,
no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind,
no sight, sound, scent, taste, tangibles, or dharma,
no field of the eye up to no field of mental consciousness,
no suffering, no cause of suffering,
no ending of suffering, and no path,
no wisdom and also no attainment.
Because there is nothing obtainable.
Bodhisattvas through the reliance on Prajna-paramita
Have no attachment and hindrance in their minds.
Because there is no more attachment and hindrance,
There is no more fear, and
Far away from erroneous views and wishful-thinking,
Ultimately : The Final Nirvana.
Therefore, realize that Prajna-paramita
is the great wondrous mantra,
the great radiant mantra,
the unsurpassed mantra, and
the unequalled mantra.
It can eradicate all suffering, and
It is genuine and not false.
Therefore, utter the Prajna-paramita mantra -
Chant: Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhisvaha!
Toby’s open enquiring mind, combined with the ability to listen, has led to a continued interest in interfaith discussion. This has resulted in joint retreats bringing together senior religious leaders from a variety of faiths.
What separates Venerable Toby Gillies from other teachers is his innate ability to meld, adapt and communicate the Buddha’s message through his personal experience as a westerner navigating and conquering the pathways of the mind as presented in Tibetan Buddhism.
By demystifying Tibetan Buddhism and bringing the philosophical elements into the 21st century, Venerable Toby Gillies shows by example how meditation, analysis of the mind and understaning can make life a happier, healthier, relaxed and more joyous experience.
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