This edition was prepared by Graham Patterson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Heart Sutra
Staff Notation • Sacred, Liturgical music
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Heart Sutra by Graham Patterson — Lyrics
The Bodhisattva of Compassion,
When he meditated deeply,
Saw the emptiness of all five skandhas
And sundered the bonds that caused him suffering.
Here then,
Form is no other than emptiness,
Emptiness no other than form.
Form is only emptiness,
Emptiness only form.
Feeling, thought, and choice,
Consciousness itself,
Are the same as this.
All things are by nature void,
They are not born or destroyed;
Nor are they stained or pure,
nor do they wax or wane.
So, in emptiness, no form,
No feeling, thought, or choice,
Nor is there consciousness.
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About Heart Sutra
Graham Patterson's Heart Sutra sets an English translation of the Buddhist text. This SATB work explores profound philosophical concepts, beginning with the Bodhisattva of Compassion's deep meditation on emptiness and the cessation of suffering. The text powerfully conveys the idea that form and emptiness are indistinguishable, as are feeling, thought, consciousness, and all other phenomena. It continues to describe the absence of conventional distinctions in emptiness, leading to a deconstruction of sensory experience and mental constructs. This sacred, liturgical setting encourages contemplation of the nature of reality and the dissolution of perceived limitations, making it a thought-provoking addition to any choral programme.
