Prajnaparamita

The Prajnaparamita is defined as the mother of all Buddhas.

After the first turn of the Dharma wheel the Buddha traveled to Ragajiri, to the mountain called Vulture Peak where he gave teachings that are known as the Sutra of Wisdom Perfection (Prajna: Wisdom and Paramita: Perfection).

The Prajnaparamita is depicted with four arms representing the bramavihara, the four immeasurable qualities of the heart: loving kindness, empathy in joy, compassion and equanimity.
In one hand he holds a vajra, in the opposite hand he holds the Sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom.
The vajra represents the masculine aspect and the compassionate method, the Sutra the feminine aspect and wisdom.
The other two hands rest in dhyani mudra, in the gesture of meditation.

The Heart Sutra is the essence of the Prajnaparamita Sutra.
I quote some extracts from this Sutra.

…The Bodhisattva Mahasattva Arya Avalokiteshvara then answered the Venerable Son of Sharadvati:
“Shariputra, every son or daughter of the lineage who wishes to engage in the practice of the profound perfection of wisdom should apply himself in it in the following way, correctly and repeatedly perceiving even the five aggregates as empties of an intrinsic nature.
Form is empty, emptiness is form, emptiness is nothing but form, and form is nothing but emptiness. In the same way are empty sensations, discrimination, factors of composition and conscience…”.

…it proclaims the mantra of the perfection of wisdom:

TAYATA OM GATE GATE PARAGATE PARASAMGATE BODHI SVAHA

Gone, gone, gone to the other side, completely on the other side, welcome awakening!

Thangka

Original size: approx. 34.5 cm x 41 cm
Technique: gouache on paper
Completed: February 2016

The original Thangka is for sale.

To the SHOP – PRAJNAPARAMITA