Delivering the Heart of Transcendental Discernment

The Heart Sūtra (Prajñā Pāramitā Hṛdaya Sūtra, 般若波羅蜜多心經) is most often recited, copied and interpreted scripture in the Buddhist canon, revered for its eloquence, its conciseness, its ability to encapsulate the essence of Buddhist teachings in the fewest words and its efficacy in facilitating the arousal of introspective meditation with a transcendental discernment of life’s purpose.

This book is an in-depth exploration of this scripture that includes:

A brief introduction

An analysis of the text

Translations of all nine classical Chinese versions of the sūtra as well as Sanskrit and Tibetan versions

Two of its renowned commentaries from different but complementary perspectives:
1. A Brief Commentary on The Heart Sūtra (般若波羅蜜多心經略疏) by Fǎzang of the Chinese Garland (Huáyán) Sūtra School
2. A Secret Key to The Heart Sūtra (般若心經祕鍵) by Kūkai of the Japanese Mantra (Shingon) School

Four classic essays on the seamless blending of the transcendental nature of life’s purpose found in the dialectical principle (‘emptiness’) and the mutually dependent conditions that arise from the phenomena of sentient existence (‘form’), according to the Chinese Garland (Huáyán) Sūtra School, including:
* Dùshùn’s ‘Thirty Gateways of Meditation on the Transcendental Sphere of Life’s Purpose‘
* Dùshùn’s Essay on Indra’s Net
* Fǎzang’s Essay on Six Aspects Found in the Interpenetration of All Purposes Through The Arising of Mutually Dependent Conditions, Illustrated by the Building of a House (“The Rafter Dialogue”)
* Fǎzang’s Essay on a Golden Lion
* A comparison of meditations in the Tiantai and Huayan Schools

On The Esoteric Meanings Found in the Matrix of Sanskrit Syllables from ‘The Chapter on the Matrix of Letters’ (Akṣara Mātṛkā Vyākhyā, 釋字母品) translated by Amoghavajra (不空) & other Tantric sources

Three other supplemental translations relevant to the subject
*The core text in The Heart Sūtra as found in Kumārajīva’s translation of the Long Version of the Sūtra on the Deliverance of Transcendental Discernment (Mahā Prajñā Pāramitā Sūtra)
* An excerpt from a biography on the life of Xuánzàng by Huìlì, explaining his first encounter with The Heart Sūtra
* The Sūtra Explaining the First Arising of Mutually Dependent Conditions(Pratītya Samutpāda Adi Vibhaṅga Nirdeśa Sūtra)

Also included are:

Comprehensive footnotes that offer a background on Buddhist concepts and history relevant to the subject.

Pronunciation guides for reciting the sūtra in Sanskrit, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Tibetan

Click here to buy on Amazon