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The Book
Right now countless humans are reciting the Heart Sutra—no matter when “right now” happens to be. This ancient, essential Buddhist text carries with it a mystery of origin and a myriad of versions for consideration. The longest is 100,000 lines. The one contemplated in Inexplicable Joy is 43 lines. The ultimate is no lines at all. Just one syllable: AH.
The Heart Sutra is multi-layered, sacred, and sometimes impenetrable. It also lays out the path to full enlightenment.
In this short book (the first in a new series, Buddhism Beyond Belief), I break down each of its 43 lines, how it is practiced, and offer suggestions for bringing it into your life—while keeping all of its mysteries intact. Also included are instruction for how to chant it, for those who would like to experiment.
From the Introduction
“Profound and insightful books have been written about the Prajnaparamita Sutra, also known as The Sutra of the Heart of Transcendent Knowledge, or just the Heart Sutra. This is not one of them. Rather, it is an invitation to walk through the text with me, to be inspired, confused, frustrated, and delighted by it.
I should mention that I do not understand it at all. While I have been chanting it for more than three decades, I can’t say I know more than I did the first time I chanted it in 1993. I encountered it when a great meditation teacher volunteered to teach me how to meditate. I had no idea why he was willing to do this, what to expect, or even much about him–we had only met once, at a party. Something inside me said DO IT but I was still plenty nervous. Back then, meditation was still considered strange and, as mentioned, I didn’t really know him. When I went over to his house, he kindly welcomed me and asked a few questions about my interest in meditation. I have no idea what I said in response. Then we sat on cushions on the floor opposite his very beautiful shrine and he handed me a piece of paper with words printed on both sides. “We’ll chant this together before we begin. It’s called the Heart Sutra. Just follow along with me…”
And so began my life as a student of Buddhism. This text remains central to my personal practice and it is a great joy to share it with you.
About Susan
Susan Piver is the New York Times bestselling author of many books, including the award-winning How Not to Be Afraid of Your Own Life, The Wisdom of a Broken Heart, Start Here Now: An Open-Hearted Guide to the Path and Practice of Meditation, The Four Noble Truths of Love: Buddhist Wisdom for Modern Relationships, and The Buddhist Enneagram: Nine Paths to Warriorship.
Piver has been a practicing Buddhist since 1993 and graduated from a Buddhist seminary in 2004. She is an internationally acclaimed meditation teacher, known for her ability to translate ancient practices into modern life. Her work has been featured on the Oprah show, TODAY, CNN, and in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and others.
In 2013, she launched the Open Heart Project, the largest virtual mindfulness community in the world with 20,000 members.
Reviews
"Susan Piver’s book Inexplicable Joy is small in size but big at heart. It is a very helpful practical guide to
reading, reciting, and contemplating the Heart Sutra. But it is much more than that because it is profound, personal, direct, and at times funny. It also leaves you dangling out there with just your own mind; just as the Heart Sutra itself does so many times. Susan doesn’t give too many answers but opens up space for personally exploring this text that is both celebrated and enigmatic. She appeals to 'Don’t-know mind' but also has some insights as to how not to know but experience. I’d say the book is Susan’s love letter to the Heart Sutra, coming from her heart and embracing the heart of Prajñāpāramitā. As the famous saying of Saint-Exupéry’s Little Prince goes: 'It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.'”
Karl Brunnhölzl, author of The Heart Attack Sutra
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