Gate paragate in standard or kaisho
The gate gate paragate mantra that heals all suffering
The Buddhist gate mantra is practiced as a wisdom spell that kindles the knowledge of our true nature. In the Heart Sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom it is called the great holy mantra, the great mantra of wisdom, the unexcelled mantra, the mantra that equals the unequalled, the mantra that heals all suffering. It is the sound that tunes the mind to Perfect Wisdom, to our awakened nature.
The vibration of the gate mantra
In Sanskrit the gate mantra sounds as following:
gate gate paragate parasangate bodhi svaha
which in English could be translated as:
gone, gone, gone beyond, gone completely beyond, enlightenment hail!
Basically mantras are not translated, as they represent the ultimate sound of a certain wisdom or deity. Therefore they are transliterated into other languages and in Japanese we find the gate gate paragate mantra transcribed as follows:
gya-tei gya-tei ha-ra-gya-tei ha-ra-sô-gya-tei bo-ji so-wa-ka
If you like, stop your activity for a moment and let the mantra vibrate for a while, unite yourself with this sound and expand yourself beyond the small self into the Perfection of Wisdom.
Gate gate brushed in the Way of Japanese calligraphy
I have several calligraphies on my web that pay homage to the Heart Sutra and to the Perfection of Wisdom mantra. Some of them are on large scrolls or as in the case of the gate mantra in seal script it is in my book The Heart Sutra in Calligraphy
For all of you who would like to have the presence of the gate mantra at home or on your altar, I offer you affordable prints brushed in three styles of Japanese calligraphy. You will find the gate mantra in standard script, semi-cursive and cursive style.
Gate gate paragate
in semi-cursive or gyosho
The kaisho or standard style is the one most rooted in the earth, where the brush play is settled.
In the semi-cursive style or gyosho the brush strokes are more interlinked and the brush play becomes loftier. Let’s say that the characters show heaven and earth in the same degree.
The cursive or sosho style is the freest of all. Here the character structure loosens up and the brush strokes flow into each other evoking a heavenly play of brush and ink.
Buy a gate gate paragate mantra print
I hope very much that one of these calligraphies inspires you and that their energy will bring the light of the Perfection of Wisdom into your life.
The calligraphies are available in two price categories. The first price is for prints and posters on one type of paper and size, it is more affordable. In the second price class you can choose between different types of paper and sizes, framed or unframed.
See below the gate gate paragate calligraphies and click on the links to see more details.
| Gate gate paragate in standard or kaisho |
Gate gate paragate in semi-cursive or gyosho |
Gate gate paragate in cursive or sosho |
 |
 |
 |
| From $16.99 From $32.99 |
From $16.99 From $32.99 |
From $16.99 From $32.99 |
More pages on the Heart Sutra
| Sutra copying | Sutra kanji course | Heart sutra for shakyo |
| Share your heart sutra copying |
| Japanese calligraphy home | Shodo Art Gallery | Buddhist Art Scrolls |
| Japanese painting gallery | Japanese calligraphy supplies |
| Kanji t-shirts | About the artist |
