《心经》中“空义”的二重性发微

The Duality of the Meaning of Emptiness in The Heart Sutra

“空义”是大乘佛教的根本义理之一,《般若波罗蜜多心经》作为般若类经典的心要,文本虽然短小,但对于空义却进行了深刻的阐发。对比《心经》的梵文原本,结合历代汉译本及注疏可以看出,《心经》中的空义具有否定和肯定的二重性。《心经》梵文本中关于“空义”的表述分别使用了“sūnya”和“sūnyatā”两词,其分别直译为“空”与“空性”,空和空性构成了《心经》中空义的二重性。空是空义中否定的一面,代表对虚妄分别言说相的单纯否定,而空性则是空义中肯定的一面,代表由空所反显的真实性存在。作为真实存在的空性与诸法非一非异,其自身不生不灭、不垢不净、不增不减,不能用凡夫的名言和思维去理解,只能用甚深般若波罗蜜多去把握。

The meaning of emptiness is one of the fundamental principles of Mahayana Buddhism.The Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra,as the heart of the Prajna classics,although the text is short,has a profound interpretation of the meaning of emptiness.Comparing the original Sanskrit versions of The Heart Sutra with the Chinese versions and annotations of previous dynasties,it can be seen that the meaning of“emptiness”in The Heart Sutra has the duality of negation and affirmation.The expression of the meaning of“emptiness”in the Sanskrit text of The Heart Sutra uses the words“sūnya”and“sūnyatā”respectively.The two words can be literally translated into“void”and“emptyness”,which constitute the duality of the meaning of“emptiness”in The Heart Sutra.Void is the negative side of the meaning of“emptiness”,which represents the simple negation of wrong thinking.Emptiness is the affirmative side of the meaning of“emptiness”,which represents the real existence shown by“emptiness”.The“emptiness”as a real existence is not the same as all dharmas.It is neither produced nor destroyed,nor defiled nor pure,nor increasing or diminishing.“Emptiness”cannot be understood with the language and thinking of ordinary people,but can only be grasped with deep Prajnaparamita.