범본에 의거한 般若心經의 이해

Abstract

This is an attempt to understand the Heart Sūtra based on the sanskrit text in comparison with the Hyenjang's chinese version. In this attempt I tried to look into the text itself apart from any particular viewpoint or any preconceived ideas. According to my own understanding the text is divided into three parts, i.e. 1. the prajñāpāramitā practice, 2. the power of the prajñāpāramitā, 3. the prajñāpāramitā and mantra. The 1st part is seen as to be consisted of 4 topics, i.e. ⅰ. the emptiness of self, ⅱ. nonduality, ⅲ. 6 negations, ⅳ. the emptiness of dharmas. 2nd part, the prajñāpāramitā as the highest mantra. 3rd part, the spoken mantra on the prajñāpāramitā. I pointed out the two different uses and meanings of the '空'(emptiness). In the sanskrit text, ‘śūnya’ and ‘śūnyatā’ which are expressed in the same word ‘空’ in the Hyenjang's version are used having different meanings at the different contexts. Besides I distinguished the mantra as the prajñāpāramitā possessing transformative power and the mantra as spoken on the prajñāpāramitā, i.e. “gate gate pāragate pārasaṃgate bodhi svāhā”. The Heart sūtra declares that prajñāpāramitā as the highest mantra is the extinguisher of all the sufferings as well as the truth(satya, 諦) like the mārga-satya(道諦) of the four noble truths(四聖諦).