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The Practice of the Prajnaparamita Sutra (2)
The Prajñā Pāramitā Sutra teaches us to practice prajñā in order to transform the seeds of fear and attachment that lie deep in our subconscious. The fear of nothingness (abhāva) arises because we are caught in the notions of birth and death, being and non-being, and from there we cling to a false self. The wisdom of Prajñā opens the way for us to see that there is nothing to attain, no enlightenment to chase after (the fifth gāthā on non-attainment), and to realize the emptiness of the five skandhas in order to liberate ourselves from all suffering (the sixth gāthā on non-abiding). Practicing mindful walking, mindful breathing, or being present with each small task is the key that helps us clearly see the illusory, magical nature—like the tricks of a magician—and awaken to the emptiness of all phenomena.
When we look deeply into the five skandhas, we realize there is no separate self, no self-nature, only assemblies of interdependent conditions—interbeing, neither one nor many. Body, feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness are all illusions, not worthy of our long-term investment; letting go of both being and non-being, we find true freedom, no longer fearing nothingness or being caught in existence. The seed of insight already lies within us like an egg that needs warmth to hatch into the bird of wisdom, carrying us beyond the cycle of samsāra and suffering.
According to the Prajñā Pāramitā Sutra, the five skandhas are:
- Form (body)
- Feelings (sensations)
- Perceptions
- Mental formations
- Consciousness
The Practice of the Prajnaparamita Sutra (1)