The Heart Sutra

A Comprehensive Guide to the Classic of Mahayana Buddhism

By: Kazuaki Tanahashi

Narrated by: P. J. Ochlan

The Prajna Paramita Hridaya Sutra is among the best known of all the Buddhist scriptures. Chanted daily by many Zen students, it is also studied extensively in the Tibetan tradition, and it has been regarded with interest more recently in the West in various fields of study - from philosophy to quantum physics. In just 35 lines, it expresses the truth of impermanence and the release from suffering that results from the understanding of that truth with a breathtaking economy of language.

Kazuaki Tanahashi's guide to the Heart Sutra is the result of a life spent working with it and living it. He outlines the history and meaning of the text and then analyzes it line-by-line in its various forms (Sanskrit, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tibetan, Mongolian, and various key English translations), providing a deeper understanding of the history and etymology of the elusive words than is generally available to the nonspecialist - yet with a clear emphasis on the relevance of the text to practice. It includes a fresh and meticulous new translation of the text by the author and Roshi Joan Halifax.

©2014 Kazuaki Tanahashi (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Ehhh

Just not my thing . Very well performed and all but just not my thing thing thing, 15 words? That’s why I don’t Like to review

Deep, thorough, What a gem!

This book is so much more than I expected! I thought this would be an interpretation and translation of the sutra. Is the detail, context and history was astonishing! Placing this in its historical context allow me to appreciate the sutra in a way that I never have.

The heart of the heart and more

I’ve been studying the Heart Sutra lately, this is a standout among the books I’ve read on the topic. The new, “positive” translation, the history of translations and biographies of important translators are illuminating intriguing, and the final chapter on the nexus between current scientific thought and emptiness is as thought provoking as “Why Buddhism is True” is.

I dislike this translation

This isn’t a good translation, but if it brings someone to a more accurate translation, then something positive has occurred. I simply can’t get past the translation to comment further on the text. However, if it works for you, it works for you.

disappointed

with a title " a comprehensive guide to the classic of Mahayana Buddhism " . I was expecting a reading of the manuscript with commentary. This is just a historical overview of scholarly jargon . It's well written and thoroughly researched for what it is. It's interesting I guess but basically useless information. Not pplicable to a Buddhist practice. Doesn't even recite the sutra. .... .