Recited by Dr. Peter Haskel
(The First Zendo of America)

The Heart Sutra (prajna paramita-hrdaya sutra), shortest of all the sutras, focuses on the perfection of transcendental wisdom (prajna). Literally, "to reach the other shore spiritually" (paramita) means "to transcend one's ordinary state of mind." This sutra is one of the most fundamental texts of Buddhism, especially emphasized in Zen. It is a Chinese text chanted by pronouncing it in Japanese. The Boddhisattva Kannon (Avalokitesvara), by meditating upon this sutra and repeating the mystic dharani syllables that conclude it, went into a deeper, clearer state of mind and thus awoke to true transcendental wisdom that frees one from all misfortune and suffering. Records state that in the early stages of study with her Chinese master, Mugai Nyodai was sent by him to meditate on this sutra.
 
 

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