An Arrow to the Heart: A Commentary on the Heart Sutra

by Ken McLeod

This exciting, trail-blazing non-traditional commentary on the Heart Sutra takes the reader right into the emptiness of all experience through a delightfully irreverent combination of wit, irony, prose, and poetry.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Nonfiction

156 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 2007

Reviews

[Jen]

Like Buddhist philosophy on steroids, I was kept constantly on my toes deciphering and interpreting... But also at moments just letting the words wash over me. Not the way I usually read a book but enjoyable all the same

[Gia]

Forget about looking
That’s just how you keep your distance
To see
You have to
Step into the jaws of experience
Chew and be chewed
Until nothing is left.


This feels like bobbing for apples if I let it.
I’ll catch what I’m meant to catch.
Everything else will ‘work through me’ I trust

[Jon Lebkowsky]

Ken McLeod's created an informal analysis of the Heart Sutra. It's very powerful, though not an easy read, and would be meaningless to anyone who hadn't gone a few rounds with Buddhism. I'll probably keep reading this periodically.

[Mckinley]

Wonderful commentary on the Heart Sutra to reflection upon. He gave a talk which was fantastic!

One of my top 10 Buddhist books.

[Mer]

I found it hard to see the connection between the thoughts of each page and the phrase it was associated with. I'm sure others will find it a fantastic way to contemplate the Heart Sutra.