Read Book Group: Study The Vajra Prajñā Pāramitā Sūtra (Diamond Sūtra) every Sunday from 10 am to 12 pm. Location: Flushing, NY.

In Buddhism, the lotus is a symbol of the Buddha’s awakening and a reminder that human beings have the same potential to attain enlightenment. Another meaning is the lotus grows out of the mud and rises to the water’s surface to bloom in beauty and purity, its holy not have been affective by the mud. Its nature is still pure. Also it metaphor human beings’ nature like lotus even they grow out in the mud. They have to practice the Six Paramitas can reach enlightenment nirvana.

Dana Paramita: Perfection of Generosity

Sila Paramita: Perfection of Morality

Ksanti Paramita: Perfection of Patience

Virya Paramita: Perfection of Energy

Dhyana Paramita: Perfection of Meditation

Prajna Paramta: Perfection of Wisdom

/ Ven.Wulin

The evil karmas I have done with my body, voice, and mind are caused by greed, anger, and delusion, which are without a beginning. Before Buddhas I now supplicate for my repentance.

往昔所造諸惡業 皆由無始貪瞋癡 從身語意之所生 今對佛前求懺悔

The evil karmas I have done with my body, voice, and mind are caused by greed, anger, and delusion, which are without a beginning. I repent of all sins, the cause of hindrances.

往昔所造諸惡業 皆由無始貪瞋癡 從身語意之所生 一切罪障皆懺悔

The evil karmas I have done with my body, voice, and mind are caused by greed, anger, and delusion, which are without a beginning. I repent of all the roots of sin.

往昔所造諸惡業 皆由無始貪瞋癡 從身語意之所生 一切罪根皆懺悔

般若心经

The Heart Of Prajna Paramita Sutra

[唐]玄奘法师译

观自在菩萨，行深般若波罗蜜多时，照见五蕴皆空，度一切苦厄。

When Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara was practicing the profound Prajna Paramita, he illuminated the Five Skandhas and saw that they are all empty, and he crossed beyond all suffering and difficulty. 

舍利子,色不异空,空不异色；色即是空,空即是色。受、想、行、识，亦复如是。

Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness; emptiness does not differ from form. Form itself is emptiness; emptiness itself is form. So too are feeling, cognition, formation, and consciousness.

舍利子，是诸法空相：不生、不灭；不垢、不净；不增、不减。

Shariputra, all Dharmas are empty of characteristics. They are not produced, not destroyed, not defiled, not pure; and they neither increase nor diminish. 

是故空中无色。无受、想、行、识；无眼、耳、鼻、舌、身、意；

Therefore, in emptiness there is no form, feeling, cognition, formation, or consciousness; no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind; 

无色、香、声、味、触、法。无眼界，乃至无意识界；

no sights, sounds, smells, tastes, objects of touch, or Dharmas; no field of the eyes up to and including no field of mind consciousness; 

无无明，亦无无明尽；乃至无老死，亦无老死尽。无苦、集、灭、道。

and no ignorance or ending of ignorance, up to and including no old age and death or ending of old age and death. There is no suffering, no accumulating, no extinction, and no Way, and no understanding and no attaining.

无智亦无得，以无所得故。菩提萨捶，依般若波罗蜜多故。心无挂碍，无挂碍故。无有恐怖，远离颠倒梦想、究竟涅磐。

Because nothing is attained, the Bodhisattva through reliance on Prajna Paramita is unimpeded in his mind. Because there is no impediment, he is not afraid, and he leaves distorted dream-thinking far behind. Ultimately Nirvana! 

三世诸佛，依般若波罗蜜多故。得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提。 

All Buddhas of the three periods of time attain Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi through reliance on Prajna Paramita. 

故知般若波罗蜜多，是大神咒，是大明咒，是无上咒，是无等等咒。能除一切苦，真实不虚。故说般若波罗蜜多咒，即说咒曰：

Therefore know that Prajna Paramita is a Great Spiritual Mantra, a Great Bright Mantra, a Supreme Mantra, an Unequalled Mantra. It can remove all suffering; it is genuine and not false. That is why the Mantra of Prajna Paramita was spoken. Recite it like this: 

“揭谛！揭谛！波罗揭谛！波罗僧揭谛！菩提萨婆诃！”

Gaté Gaté Paragaté Parasamgaté 

Bodhi Svaha!

May the three kinds of hindrances and all afflictions be eliminated.

願消三障諸煩惱

May I gain wisdom and true understanding.

願得智慧真明了

May all hindrances caused by sin be removed.

普願罪障悉消除

May I always walk the Bodhisattva Way, life after life.

世世常行菩薩道