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The Heart of Prajna Paramita Sutra: Verses Without a Stand and Prose Commentary

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Often cited as "the most recited sutra in the world," the Heart Sutra has been chanted daily in Buddhist monasteries for over a thousand years. Explicated by the Venerable Hsuan Hua, one of the foremost Tripitaka and Chan Masters of Chinese Buddhism in the U.S., this sutra is the heart of the larger Prajna Paramita (Perfection of Wisdom) Sutra. It describes the transformation of wisdom and experience of the liberation of the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokitesvara (Guanyin or Kwan Yin), through insight gained from deep meditation into the fundamental emptiness of all phenomena. A perfect introduction to Buddhist philosophy, this Sutra was translated into English by Ronald Epstein.
Chinese version 978-0-88139-829-8
Vietnamese version 978-088139-828-1
Dr. Ronald Epstein, is a retired professor of religion and philosophy at California State University, San Francisco. Epstein, a practicing Buddhist scholar, holds a PhD in Buddhist Studies from the University of California, Berkeley and is author of the dictionary Buddhism A to Z and is co-editor of the Surangama A New Translation .

180 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2002

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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
19 reviews
February 6, 2020
This is the first of several books my Buddhist Master recommended I read this winter as I begin to 'dig deeper into my practice.' I was thoroughly engaged with Venerable Master Hsuan Hua's commentary on "The Heart Prajna Paramita Sutra", poetic, inspirational, and a great beginning into Mahayana Buddhism!
1 review
October 30, 2015
The Heart Sutra holds such depth and beauty within Buddhism and “The Heart of the Prajna Paramita Sutra with Versus Without a Stand and Prose Commentary” illustrates and clarifies this profound Sutra so beautifully and succinctly.

The English translation of the Heart Sutra is both beautifully and poetically represented with exquisite illustrations. The book, purchased through the Buddhist Text Translation Society, contains detailed insightful and profound commentary by the late Venerable Master Hsuan Hua. I find myself referring back to this very beautiful and cherished book and each time there seems to be further insights into the true and actual meaning of this Sutra.

Additionally, this book is a pleasure to hold – its cover and pages are soft and smooth – unlike many of the mass-market paperbacks of today. As someone who enjoys the tactile feel of a treasured book, it reverently holds a prominent position in our home due to its beauty and depth.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews