Book: The Essense of the Heart Sutra

[Onken]

Hello all,

Has anyone read the "Essence of the Heart Sutra" by the 14th Dalai Lama? Seems to be an excellent reflection on the sutra.

Gassho,

Matt

[Hans]

Re: Book: The Essense of the Heart Sutra

Dear Matt,

for those interested in getting to terms with the Heart Sutra on a deeper level this is an excellent choice. There are relatively few parts of the book that seem to be "too" Tibetan IMHO. Mind you, as a first read I'd still recommend Red Pine's work on the Heart Sutra. If you are already pretty much at home with the Zen approach regarding emptiness etc. then by all means buy a copy of the Dalai Lama's book....it's just that some of the philosophical details that the Tibetan lineages are so famous for might other wise disorient someone just starting out to get a general overview of the territory.


Gassho,

Hans

[Jundo]

Re: Book: The Essense of the Heart Sutra

Thank you Matt and Mongen. I have ordered it and will have a look.

I also recommend the Red Pine book as a pretty good introduction.

Gassho, J

[Myozan Kodo]

Re: Book: The Essense of the Heart Sutra

Hi all,
I'm with Hans on this. I read it two years ago and recall that it is not too Tibetan. Indeed, it is an excellent little book. The holistic reality of emptiness, inter-dependence and karma is well described. It also talks well about 'the two realities' (not two, in fact) that exist at the same time: conventional reality and the ultimate reality of being. As books go, I would recommend this one.
Gassho,
Soen

[Kaishin]

Re: Book: The Essense of the Heart Sutra

Thanks for the link. I started with Thich Nhat Hanh's monograph, as it's so concise! Red Pine is on it's way, much more in-depth. Although not sure it's really necessary. Maybe. :P

Gassho,
Matt