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The Heart of Understanding: Commentaries on the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra [Paperback]

Thich Nhat Hanh , Peter Levitt
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)


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The Heart of Understanding: Commentaries on the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra The Heart of Understanding: Commentaries on the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra 4.9 out of 5 stars (37)
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Book Description

October 1, 1988
Form is emptiness, emptiness is form. In The Heart of Understanding, Thich Nhat Hanh offers a lucid and engaging interpretation of this core Buddhist text—The Heart Sutra—which is one of the most important sutras, offering subtle and profound teachings on nonduality.


Product Details

  • Paperback: 54 pages
  • Publisher: Parallax Press (October 1, 1988)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0938077112
  • ISBN-13: 978-0938077114
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.2 x 8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #738,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese monk, a renowned Zen master, a poet, and a peace activist. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize by Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1967, and is the author of many books, including the best-selling The Miracle of Mindfulness.

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
(37)
4.9 out of 5 stars
This book is a commentary on the Heart Sutra. Jim aka  |  7 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 38 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars This is an absolute gem January 3, 2004
Format:Paperback
In a very few words, Thich Nhat Hanh puts in very simple terms what many of us struggle to come to terms with - the esoteric Dharma-teachings on emptiness. Perhaps it's the Zen-born simplicity that makes this treatise so approachable and readable.

This would be a good book for newcomers to Buddhism who hear about emptiness and hairs stand up on the back of their neck. A gentle and skilful introduction to profundity.

A must read for anyone with an interest in emptiness as applied in our conventional world.

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39 of 40 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
He explains the sometimes frightening truths of emptiness in a manner which melts the fears away with understanding. As you read this book, you can feel how much the author wants the reader to understand the text and how much he wants to benefit the reader. It's so easy to just allow your mind to relax and rest on the Sutra as you read through it. Very enjoyable and highly recommended.
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28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible wisdom made accessible. June 29, 2002
Format:Paperback
Thich Nhat Hanh sheds light on this superb Buddhist text. The paradoxical language of the scripture is important to convey the illusory qualities of emptiness and individual existence. Unfortunately this language makes it extremely difficult to understand. Hanh takes this esoteric teaching and explains it to a child. I recommend any of his sutra translations and commentaries.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars The Understanding Heart
This book came into my life at a time of grief for a friend, who loved it, and lay dying while a passage was read to him. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Marika Stone
5.0 out of 5 stars Simple explanation of a difficult to understant sutra
As always Thich Nhat Hanh glides over cumbersome details and gets to the "heart" of the Heart Sutra. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Duane Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars A finger pointing at the moon
This is one of the most direct, simple and straightforward explanations of the Heart Sutra I've ever read. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Sean V.
5.0 out of 5 stars shining light on abstract and difficult subjects
Thich Nhat Hanh is, in my opinion, the greatest Buddhist teacher and author of modern times. His ability to clearly communicate some very difficult and often misunderstood... Read more
Published 3 months ago by D. J. Roberts
5.0 out of 5 stars Touches the soul
Thich Nhat Hanh as usual has the ability to simplify a scripture in such a way that you are able to relate to it completely. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Neshica
5.0 out of 5 stars Tiny book with big ideas
I had never read anything by this author before, but now I understand why he's so popular. He manages to simplify Buddhist concepts such as what is emptiness and what is form,... Read more
Published 4 months ago by lonebeaut
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a MUST Have Book for any Spritual Seeker
I'm 67 and have bought hundreds of books on self-improvement, spirituality. This is one of 15 or so I would never part with. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Lama Dennis
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful!
Thich is a beautiful human being and it comes through in his writing. This book is not just fluff. It's useful in all areas of life. Will be read and re-read many times.
Published 10 months ago by gk1
4.0 out of 5 stars The Heart Sutra is not in the book??
The Heart Sutra is not in this book so what's up with that? Odd.

I didn't get inspired by the book. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Arlene M. Zubris
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Teachings Made Simple
To start, I'm not a real Hahn fan. I've found some of his other books really flat and obvious, almost, at times, cloying. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Manjushri
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