Heart of Wisdom
Encyclopedia
Heart of Wisdom: An Explanation of the Heart Sutra (Tharpa Publications
4th. ed., 2001 ISBN 978-0-948006-77-7) is a commentary to Buddha Shakyamuni's Heart Sutra by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
, a Buddhist teacher and author in the West.
The Heart Sutra
is a well-known Mahāyāna
Buddhist Sutra
that is very popular among Mahayana Buddhists both for its brevity and depth of meaning. Heart of Wisdom contains a translation of the Sutra as well as a word by word commentary.
An understanding of emptiness (Śūnyatā), the ultimate nature of reality, lies at the heart of Buddhist view and practice. The Heart Sutra contains the essence of Buddha
's teachings on emptiness and the methods to develop the wisdom that understands this ultimate reality. Heart of Wisdom reveals its explicit and implicit meanings and relates them to the five Mahayana
paths that lead to full enlightenment
. The author also explains how an initial understanding of emptiness can be used in conjunction with the Sutra to overcome both internal and external obstacles to happiness.
Emptiness is not easy to understand but as the author explains:
David Vennells supports this observation:
The teachings on emptiness such as those explained in Heart of Wisdom also provide an essential basis for the study and practice of Buddhist Tantra
, such as generating ourself as the Buddhist female Deity
Vajrayogini. An understanding of the interdependence of all phenomena as explained in the book also provides the deepest foundation for developing compassion and empathy according to Buddhism.
Heart of Wisdom explains the philosophical implications of emptiness in practical, everyday terms for both the scholar and the lay reader. In his book Reiki Mastery, David Vennells says:
To realize emptiness, or the nature of reality, it is necessary to realize the lack of inherent existence of persons and phenomena, which is explained in detail in Heart of Wisdom. Author Victor Mansfield explains:
Buddha
's teachings on emptiness has been mentioned in relationship to quantum physics, although there are important differences that are brought up by Victor Mansfield when comparing Geshe Kelsang's traditional Buddhist approach in Heart of Wisdom to Einstein's.
Heart of Wisdom is used as an integral part of the New Kadampa Tradition
's Foundation Program with tens of thousands of students worldwide, described by Steven Heine in Buddhism in the Modern World: Adaptations of an Ancient Tradition:
It is also an integral part of the New Kadampa Tradition
's Teacher Training Program, a rigorous "multilayered educational" study program of Buddha
's teachings of Sutra
and Tantra
presented in accordance with the tradition of the Tibetan master Je Tsongkhapa
(AD 1357-1419), designed for those training as Buddhist teachers.
Tharpa Publications
Tharpa Publications is "a major international and multilingual publisher of Buddhist books" by world renowned Buddhist author and scholar Geshe Kelsang Gyatso...
4th. ed., 2001 ISBN 978-0-948006-77-7) is a commentary to Buddha Shakyamuni's Heart Sutra by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
Kelsang Gyatso
Kelsang Gyatso is a Buddhist monk, "meditation master, scholar, and author" of 22 books based on the teachings of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism...
, a Buddhist teacher and author in the West.
The Heart Sutra
Heart Sutra
The Heart Sūtra is a Mahāyāna Buddhist sūtra. Its Sanskrit name literally translates to "Heart of the Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom." The Heart Sūtra is often cited as the best known and most popular of all Buddhist scriptures.-Introduction:The Heart Sūtra is a member of the Perfection of...
is a well-known Mahāyāna
Mahayana
Mahāyāna is one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice...
Buddhist Sutra
Sutra
Sūtra is an aphorism or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a manual. Literally it means a thread or line that holds things together and is derived from the verbal root siv-, meaning to sew , as does the medical term...
that is very popular among Mahayana Buddhists both for its brevity and depth of meaning. Heart of Wisdom contains a translation of the Sutra as well as a word by word commentary.
An understanding of emptiness (Śūnyatā), the ultimate nature of reality, lies at the heart of Buddhist view and practice. The Heart Sutra contains the essence of Buddha
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
's teachings on emptiness and the methods to develop the wisdom that understands this ultimate reality. Heart of Wisdom reveals its explicit and implicit meanings and relates them to the five Mahayana
Mahayana
Mahāyāna is one of the two main existing branches of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophies and practice...
paths that lead to full enlightenment
Enlightenment (spiritual)
Enlightenment in a secular context often means the "full comprehension of a situation", but in spiritual terms the word alludes to a spiritual revelation or deep insight into the meaning and purpose of all things, communication with or understanding of the mind of God, profound spiritual...
. The author also explains how an initial understanding of emptiness can be used in conjunction with the Sutra to overcome both internal and external obstacles to happiness.
Emptiness is not easy to understand but as the author explains:
Through studying, contemplating and meditating on this Sutra we can gain a perfect understanding of the nature of reality; we can overcome hindrances and difficulties in our daily life; and finally we can overcome the obstacles preventing our full awakening, thereby attaining the perfect state of Buddhahood.
David Vennells supports this observation:
Correct instructions and explanations of emptiness are essential; they help us to develop our wisdom gradually and joyfully. Emptiness cannot be understood overnight, it might take us a few years before we begin to get a feel for it, but if we have good instruction and the support of qualified teachers we can experience wonderful results that really transform our life for the better. See Heart of Wisdom by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
The teachings on emptiness such as those explained in Heart of Wisdom also provide an essential basis for the study and practice of Buddhist Tantra
Tantra
Tantra , anglicised tantricism or tantrism or tantram, is the name scholars give to an inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India, expressed in scriptures ....
, such as generating ourself as the Buddhist female Deity
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
Vajrayogini. An understanding of the interdependence of all phenomena as explained in the book also provides the deepest foundation for developing compassion and empathy according to Buddhism.
Heart of Wisdom explains the philosophical implications of emptiness in practical, everyday terms for both the scholar and the lay reader. In his book Reiki Mastery, David Vennells says:
People and places and all our experiences appear real but in reality they are simply mental projections from within our own mind, just like a dream. This is a huge concept with many implications and opportunities for misunderstanding! Correctly understanding and experiencing this truty is the essence of the Buddhist path to enlightenment. The best way to really develop clear wisdom of what is being suggested here is to read books that deal specifically with this topic, like Heart of Wisdom by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
To realize emptiness, or the nature of reality, it is necessary to realize the lack of inherent existence of persons and phenomena, which is explained in detail in Heart of Wisdom. Author Victor Mansfield explains:
Tibetan scholar-monks such as Tenzin Gyatso or Geshe Kelsang GyatsoKelsang GyatsoKelsang Gyatso is a Buddhist monk, "meditation master, scholar, and author" of 22 books based on the teachings of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism...
who teach extensively in the West ... use inherent existence (svabhavasiddhi) interchangeably with such terms as independent existence, intrinsic existence, substantial existence, intrinsic essence, or intrinsic self-nature to mean our most innate, unreflective and pragmatic belief about both subjective and objective phenomena.
Buddha
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
's teachings on emptiness has been mentioned in relationship to quantum physics, although there are important differences that are brought up by Victor Mansfield when comparing Geshe Kelsang's traditional Buddhist approach in Heart of Wisdom to Einstein's.
Einstein believed that objects exist independently in two ways. First, they are independent of our knowing or perception... Second, objects are independent of each other... The Tibetan Buddhist monk-scholar, Geshe Kelsang GyatsoKelsang GyatsoKelsang Gyatso is a Buddhist monk, "meditation master, scholar, and author" of 22 books based on the teachings of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism...
, echoes these same two forms of independence when he says, "If we are ordinary beings, all objects appear to us to exist inherently. Objects seem to be independent of our mind and independent of other phenomena." Although Einstein speaks for Western classical science and Geshe Gyatso speaks for an ancient Buddhist tradition, at a fundamental level they are addressing the same point. (Though of course they are arguing for opposite positions.)
Heart of Wisdom is used as an integral part of the New Kadampa Tradition
New Kadampa Tradition
The New Kadampa Tradition ~ International Kadampa Buddhist Union is a global Buddhist organisation founded by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in England in 1991. In 2003 the words "International Kadampa Buddhist Union" were added to the original name "New Kadampa Tradition"...
's Foundation Program with tens of thousands of students worldwide, described by Steven Heine in Buddhism in the Modern World: Adaptations of an Ancient Tradition:
The Foundation Program is meant for serious students who want a guided study at a deeper level than they can get through the series of Lamrim talks, usually all pitched to a beginner's capacity, that normally constitute the fare of Western Dharma centers.
It is also an integral part of the New Kadampa Tradition
New Kadampa Tradition
The New Kadampa Tradition ~ International Kadampa Buddhist Union is a global Buddhist organisation founded by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in England in 1991. In 2003 the words "International Kadampa Buddhist Union" were added to the original name "New Kadampa Tradition"...
's Teacher Training Program, a rigorous "multilayered educational" study program of Buddha
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
's teachings of Sutra
Sutra
Sūtra is an aphorism or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a manual. Literally it means a thread or line that holds things together and is derived from the verbal root siv-, meaning to sew , as does the medical term...
and Tantra
Tantra
Tantra , anglicised tantricism or tantrism or tantram, is the name scholars give to an inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India, expressed in scriptures ....
presented in accordance with the tradition of the Tibetan master Je Tsongkhapa
Je Tsongkhapa
Tsongkhapa , whose name means “The Man from Onion Valley”, was a famous teacher of Tibetan Buddhism whose activities led to the formation of the Geluk school...
(AD 1357-1419), designed for those training as Buddhist teachers.
External links
- Heart of Wisdom by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso on Google Book Search