- 期刊
般若波羅蜜多心經：一份禪定境界的科學報告
The Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra: A Scientific Report of Profound Meditation
摘要
自從玄奘的弟子慧立與彥悰所寫的《大唐大慈恩寺三藏法師傳》說玄奘法師因持誦一位異人所傳授的《般若波羅蜜多心經》或《心經》，而得以化險為夷，完成到天竺取經的任務以來，許多人都相信持誦《般若波羅蜜多心經》或其他佛教經典有不可思議的消災解厄功用。事實上包括著名的《金剛經》及《地藏菩薩本願經》等經典在內的許多佛經也都有經文強調持經或稱佛名號可以消災解厄。 《心經》前四句經文所描述的是聖觀世音自在菩薩進入禪定的過程及進入甚深禪定後的發現。這四句之後的經文則描述空性的性質，例如一切有形相的東西與空性沒有差別，且空性和一切有形相的東西也沒有差別；空性既沒有生出來也沒有消失；空性既不骯髒也不乾淨；它沒有增加也沒有減少。故從《般若波羅蜜多心經》的標題、經文及「般若波羅蜜多咒」的意義來看，《般若波羅蜜多心要經》或《般若波羅蜜多心經》應是觀世音菩薩描述其如何進入禪定及他在禪定境界中有何發現的科學性報告，而較不像是一個唸一唸就可以消災解厄的符咒。《心經》最後面的「般若波羅蜜多咒」則像一般科學報告的結論。
並列摘要
”A Biography of The Tripitaka Master of The Great Cien Monastery of The Great Tang Dynasty” written by Sramana Huili & Shi Yancong said that the reason why Genjo Sanzo or Master Hsuan-tsang could cross safely the great desert to India was his recitation of ”Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra” or ”Heart Sutra” of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva when he encountered dangerous situations. After that, many people believe that the recitation of ”Heart Sutra” or other Buddhistical sutras can help people surpass their difficulties and get around their bad lucks. In fact, many Buddhistical Sutras including the famous ”Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra” or ”Diamond Sutra” and ”Sutra of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha's Fundamental Vows” have statements asserting that the repeated recitation of the Sutra or the names of the Buddhas can rid people of their bad fortunes. The initial four sentences of the Heart Sutra describes how Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva went into profound meditation, and what he found when he was in the state of profound meditation. The remaining text of the Heart Sutra describes the nature of Sunnata or emptiness. For instances, form does not differ from emptiness, and emptiness does not differ from form; the emptiness does not appear or disappear, has no taint or purity, does not increase or decrease. From the title and the text of ”Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra” and the meaning of ”Prajna Paramita Heart Mantra”, one can see that ”Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra” is in reality the scientific report made by Avalokitesvara Bodhisattv about how he went into the inconceivable profound meditation and what he discovered when he was in that state of deep and profound meditation, rather than a magic symbolics that can rid people of their bad lucks or bestow people with good fortunes when they recite or use it. The Prajna Paramita Heart Mantra at the end of the Heart Sutra looks like the conclusion of a scientific report.