My personal practice always includes the Heart Sutra or Prajnaparamita Sutra. Prajna means wisdom and paramita is variously translated as “perfected” or “transcendent”. So this text is about the ultimate wisdom.
Though I’ve recited it for close to 30 years, I’m not sure I understand it today any better than I did when I first read it in 1993–but my relationship to it grows deeper and deeper in ways I can’t describe. It exerts a kind of magic.
If you’re interested in an introduction to this sutra, please join me on September 7 at 7:00pm ET for a 90-minute discussion.
The version we will discuss is here. You’ll see that it’s not particularly long. Don’t be intimidated by the words you’re not familiar with. We’ll discuss each line of the sutra at our gathering.
There is nothing I can say to accurately convey the importance of this text. It points the way to enlightenment. It explains emptiness. In a very concise way, it shows us what to do to be fully alive.
One of my favorite lines is this: “Since there is no obscuration of mind, there is no fear.” The Heart Sutra points the way to clarifying the confusion that underlies all our fears.
Also, I’ll share a bit about a Heart Sutra meditation retreat I’m teaching in Austin, TX, Nov 2-6. We will take a deep look at this astonishing text and practice with it throughout each day.
September 7th 7-8:30p ET.
The event will be recorded and a link will be sent to all who register.