🧘(Heart Sutra) Core 3 sentences (Translation by Xuanzang)
1. Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, when practicing deep prajna paramita, sees that all five aggregates are empty and can transcend all suffering.
Interpretation: With great wisdom, deeply observe and see through the fact that body and mind, as well as external circumstances, are all empty forms resulting from conditions; thus, one can be liberated from all suffering.
2. Form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form; form is emptiness, emptiness is form; sensation, perception, volition, and consciousness are also like this.
Interpretation: Material phenomena and emptiness are not opposites but are fundamentally one; feelings, thoughts, actions, and cognition are likewise, breaking the attachment to 'substantiality.'
3. With no attachments in the heart, there is no fear; far from inverted dreams, ultimately attaining nirvana.
Interpretation: When the mind is not attached to anything, there will be no fear. By freeing oneself from erroneous perceptions, one ultimately reaches the state of perfection and freedom.
✨(Diamond Sutra) 3 core sentences
1. One should be without attachment and give rise to their heart.
Interpretation: When doing things, do not cling to results, emotions, or concepts. Let the heart respond naturally and focus on the present; this is the core principle of non-attachment practice.
2. All forms are illusions. If one sees the forms as non-forms, they see the Tathagata.
Interpretation: All appearances are temporary and false; if one can see through the empty essence behind appearances, they are close to the Buddha's realm.
3. All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows, dew, and lightning; one should view them as such.
Interpretation: All things arising from conditions in the world are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows, dew, and lightning, fleeting in an instant; one should view everything from this perspective.
🪷(Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch) 3 core sentences (Zongbao Ben)
1. The nature of Bodhi is originally pure, but using this mind directly leads to Buddhahood.
Interpretation: Everyone's Buddha nature is originally pure; as long as one makes good use of their original mind, they can directly attain Buddhahood without seeking outside.
2. Bodhi has no tree; the bright mirror is not a platform. Originally, there is nothing; where can dust settle?
Interpretation: Buddha nature is not a substance; the original mind is not a mirror that needs polishing. The essence of all things is emptiness, free from dust and contamination, directly pointing to the self-nature of emptiness.
3. My Dharma gate has no fixation as its basis, no form as its essence, and no dwelling as its foundation.
Interpretation: The key to Zen practice is: do not cling to thoughts, do not cling to appearances, do not cling to anything. This is the essence of Huineng's teaching.
Here are 3 core original texts + simplified interpretations from (Tao Te Ching) (Zhuangzi) (Liezi) to help you quickly memorize and apply.
📜(Tao Te Ching) (Laozi)
1. Original text: The way that can be told is not the eternal way; the name that can be named is not the eternal name (Chapter 1). Interpretation: The 'way' that can be clearly articulated is not the eternal way, and the 'name' that can be defined is not the ultimate name. Do not cling to words and concepts; rely on intuition to perceive the essence.
2. Original text: The highest good is like water. Water benefits all things without competing; it dwells in places that others disdain, thus it is close to the way (Chapter 8). Interpretation: The highest good is like water, nourishing all things without contention and willingly taking a low position. Being humble and altruistic brings one closer to the laws and grants greater strength.
3. Original text: Man follows the earth, the earth follows the sky, the sky follows the Tao, the Tao follows nature (Chapter 25). Interpretation: Man learns from the earth, the earth learns from the sky, the sky learns from the Tao, and the Tao conforms to one's own nature. Do not force actions; follow the laws to reduce internal friction.
🎨(Zhuangzi) (Zhuang Zhou)
1. Original text: The highest person has no self, the divine person has no achievement, the sage has no name (Xiao Yao You). Interpretation: The highest realm is that of no self-attachment, the divine person does not seek credit, and the sage does not pursue fame. Let go of ego and vanity to attain spiritual freedom.
2. Original text: Heaven and earth arise with me, and all things are one with me (Qi Wu Lun). Interpretation: Heaven and earth coexist with me, and all things are unified with me. Break down prejudices, accept differences, and cultivate a more transparent mindset.
3. Original text: My life has limits, but knowledge is limitless. To follow the limited with the limitless is perilous (YANG SHENG ZHU). Interpretation: Life is finite, while knowledge is infinite; using the finite to pursue the infinite can be exhausting. Focus on the core, simplify, and do not be greedy for completeness.
☁️(Liezi) (Lie Yukou)
1. Original text: Nothing is better than stillness; nothing is better than emptiness. Stillness and emptiness are the essence; striving for gain and conformity leads to loss of one’s place (Tianrui). Interpretation: The best state is tranquility and emptiness. Maintaining stillness leads to the essence of things; deliberate competition and conformity lead to confusion.
2. Original text: Heaven and earth do not have complete merit; sages do not have complete ability; all things do not have complete usefulness (Tianrui). Interpretation: Heaven, earth, sages, and all things are not perfect. Accept limitations, do not demand extremes, and live according to one’s true self.
3. Original text: The empty does not have value (Tianrui). Interpretation: 'Empty' is not a deliberately pursued 'value' but rather a natural state that conforms to nature. Do not label 'emptiness'; just let it be naturally.
Here are the three core classics of Confucianism ((The Analects) (Great Learning) (Doctrine of the Mean)) with 3 core original texts + simplified interpretations for your quick memorization and application.
📜(The Analects) (Record of Confucius' Words and Actions)
1. Original text: Do not impose on others what you do not desire for yourself (Wei Ling Gong). Interpretation: Do not impose on others what you would not want to endure yourself. Treat others with empathy; this is the basic practice of benevolence.
2. Original text: Is it not a joy to learn and practice it at times? Is it not a joy when friends come from afar? Is it not the noble person who is not resentful when unrecognized? (Xue Er). Interpretation: Regular practice after learning, enjoying discussions with friends, and being at peace even when unrecognized, is the starting point of a noble person's self-cultivation.
3. Original text: When seeing the virtuous, aspire to be like them; when seeing the unvirtuous, reflect within oneself (Li Ren). Interpretation: Aspire to emulate the excellent; when seeing shortcomings, reflect on oneself. This is an effective path for self-improvement.
📜(Great Learning) (Outline of Confucian Self-Cultivation)
1. Original text: The way of the Great Learning is to illuminate virtue, to bring people close, and to stop at the utmost good (Preface). Interpretation: The core of education is to illuminate one's inherent virtues, assist others in innovation, and pursue the utmost goodness; this is the overarching goal of life.
2. Original text: All things have their beginnings and ends; knowing what comes first and last is close to the way (Chapter 1). Interpretation: Everything has priorities; advancing according to the rules helps avoid detours in actions.
3. Original text: Cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world (Chapter 1). Interpretation: First cultivate oneself, then regulate the family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world. This is the practical path from the individual to society; self-cultivation is fundamental.
📜(Doctrine of the Mean) (Guide to Wisdom in Life)
1. Original text: When emotions have not yet arisen, it is called the mean; when expressed appropriately, it is called harmony. The mean is the great foundation of the world; harmony is the great way of the world (Chapter 1). Interpretation: When emotions have not yet arisen, maintain the mean; expressing appropriately is harmony; the mean is fundamental, and harmony is the great way. To live in the world, one must find balance.
2. Original text: The noble person is harmonious but different; the petty person is the same yet not harmonious (Chapter 3). Interpretation: The noble person seeks harmony without blind conformity; the petty person follows the crowd without a shared heart. One must have independent thought and tolerance in life.
3. Original text: Broaden your learning, inquire carefully, think critically, distinguish clearly, and act diligently (Chapter 20). Interpretation: Extensive learning, careful inquiry, deep thinking, clear discernment, and diligent execution create a complete cycle of education and action.
