The Heart Sūtra Explained

Indian and Tibetan Commentaries

Donald S Lopez, Jr author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:State University of New York Press

Published:15th Nov '87

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

The Heart Sūtra Explained cover

Renowned for its terse declaration of the perfection of wisdom, the Heart Sutra is the most famous of Buddhist scriptures. The author draws on previously unexamined commentaries, preserved only in Tibetan, to investigate the meanings derived from and invested into the sutra during the later period of Indian Buddhism.

The Heart Sutra Explained offers new insights on "form is emptiness, emptiness is form," on the mantra "gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha," and on the synthesis of Madhyamika, Yogacara, and tantric thought that characterized the final period of Buddhism in India. It also includes complete translations of two nineteenth century Tibetan commentaries demonstrating the selective appropriation of Indian sources.

"It makes a major contribution to Buddhist studies by bringing forth new and important material to contextualize one of the most beloved and well-known Buddhist texts, the Heart Sutra. It does so in a manner that is both scholarly and readable." — Anne C. Klein, Stanford University

ISBN: 9780887065903

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 290g

236 pages