Yì jīng 意經

Sūtra of the Mind (parallel to Madhyama-āgama sūtra 172, the Xīn jīng 心經) by 竺法護 (Zhú Fǎhù / Dharmarakṣa, 譯)

About the work

The Yì jīng is a single-fascicle Western Jìn 西晉 translation of a discourse on the centrality of mind (citta / manas) in the conditioning of action and consequence. The Chinese parallel is T26[172] (the Xīn jīng 心經 of the Madhyama-āgama — not to be confused with the more famous Heart Sūtra of the Prajñāpāramitā).

Prefaces

The text bears no preface or postface. The only paratext is the Western-Jìn translator’s signature at the head: 「西晉月氏國三藏竺法護譯」.

Abstract

T82 was produced during Dharmarakṣa’s Western Jìn career (266–313 CE), recorded in the frontmatter. The Indic source is presumed lost.

Translations and research

  • Anālayo, Bhikkhu. A Comparative Study of the Majjhima-nikāya. Taipei: Dharma Drum, 2011.