Unlock the Wisdom of the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra: A Comprehensive Guide to the Heart of Understanding

bookworm: I can't express enough how much I love this book! Just like any of Thich Nhat Hanh's writings, it's crafted with exceptional simplicity, depth, and warmth.

Reading this book has been a transformative experience. It helped me crown my understanding and appreciation for the Heart Sutra. Thich Nhat Hanh has a unique ability to convey profound wisdom in a way that's accessible and relatable to everyone.

If you're interested in deepening your understanding of spiritual texts like the Heart Sutra or simply seeking profound insights delivered with simplicity and warmth, this book is an absolute gem. Thich Nhat Hanh's writing continues to be a source of inspiration and enlightenment for me.

Canada on Sep 01, 2023

Jimmy H.: The item’s description matched the item perfectly. The book was almost like new and would definitely purchase from the seller again.

United States on Aug 21, 2023

bcfreeb: As always, Thich Nhat Hanh presents ideas clearly and poetically, digging into complex concepts with great simplicity that transcends intellect and touches your heart.

United States on Jun 01, 2023

Koskas: a crystal clear commentary on the heart sutra written by one of our greatest bodhisattva of our era

India on Oct 06, 2022

Dylan R. Cramer: This book changed my life and thinking. It is a must and should be taught to every young person on this earth. Brilliant, simple, inspiring.

United States on Sep 04, 2022

Ernie Truman: I have heard a couple people talk about how systematic Buddhist thought is, and reading a lot literature about it I began to agree. Then I read Thich Nhat Hanh, and although I didn't absorb his message fully with his other books, as my views have matured I have started seeing that everything in Buddhist practice is made of everything else. For example, I always thought that by following The Noble Eightfold Path you had to do things in a specific order, but now I see it in another way. One principle or practice of that path contains all the others. Fail at one and the whole thing doesn't work. You don't develop one practice on its own.

In this book Thich Nhat Hanh illustrates this by showing us a translation of the Heart Sutra and then gives some commentary on what the ideas point to in a way that is simple and easy to understand. I always struggled with the idea that emptiness is form and form is emptiness but now I have a good grasp on to see it. This book will take very little time to read but if you concentrate and look deeply into what he is saying I believe it will invite some great insight. It's affordable on Kindle but I do believe I will buy a physical copy if I can...

United States on Sep 17, 2020

Michael: As with every other book on the text, Thich Nhat Hanh uses the Heart Sutra as a tabula rasa for talking about his beliefs. The book is not so much a commentary on the Heart Sutra as it is an exposition of Vietnamese Zen Buddhism. Which is fine if you are interested in Vietnamese Zen Buddhism or just like reading Thich Nhat Hanh (which a lot of people do).

Not much more can be expected since the Prajñāpāramitā tradition actually died out over a millennium ago, to be superceded by Madhyamaka (with which it really has little in common) and other Mahāyana ideologies. Zen is an amalgam of all these ideas, and the Heart Sutra is supposedly a reflection of this, but really none of these people understand it (partly because the text has become garbled in transmission and partly because Zen is what it is). Which is not to say that Thich Nhat Hanh is a bad person or talking nonsense. What he says is fine as far as it goes. Just not related to the Heart Sutra per se.

United Kingdom on Jul 07, 2018

Dee Arr: I realized early on this is not a book to be read at one sitting (even though it is not large). Nor is it a book that can be read and then laid on the shelf, allowed to collect dust. To gain the knowledge it contains, one must be willing to consider the teachings until assimilated. I learned that many chant or recite the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra on a daily basis.

I was amazed at the number of highlights I had created by the time I reached the last page. Normally I quickly devour a book, but this was a book I read slowly, repeating passages until I felt I had at least a layman’s grasp of what author Thich Nhat Hanh was instructing. “Buddhism is a clever way to enjoy life,” he says early on, and I found myself smiling. I understood him to mean this was not a trick, but learning a different way of thinking.

The book breaks the Heart Sutra into small sections. The author first offers an overview of the lines to be taught before giving examples to enable understanding. While the examples are clear, one is forced to suspend reading and think in order to assimilate the knowledge before moving on. There are concepts presented that are counter to what most of us have...

United States on Apr 30, 2017

Wild Wolf Tears: I bought this, Red Pines and the Dalai Lama's books on the Heart Sutra, translations being different... Thought I'd be thorough to get the fullest understanding. Didn't get much further than the intro in Red Pines, this is what I did here, this is the origin of this word... I'm sure it's very thorough but I couldn't hold onto the thought of what I was reading. Now Thich's book - shoulda just stick w/ this. Clear to ne'er stand and gives you things to think about. Had those moments where it's like yes yes - like something 'you' always knew and then again 'you' never knew, if you get me. Thoroughly recommend.

United Kingdom on Jun 17, 2016

Kane Doughty: I received this wonderful teaching on a saturday morning and due to it's small size was able to read the whole book in short sessions by the evening. Although it's short like the heart sutra itself, don't be fooled in thinking you "need" more to understand the complexity of the sutra, in fact it's quite the opposite. How you approach the simple yet extremely profound chapters in this book is the key to going deep into the teachings on emptiness and it's small size means you can take it with you anywhere.
A must have for anyone trying to understand emptiness. All that's needed now is to sit.

United Kingdom on Sep 06, 2013