The Heart Sutra

Date: Saturday, September 24, 2022
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time (online and in-person)
Facilitators: Hogen Banerjee and Gansho Hanjian

The Heart Sutra is one of the central teachings in Mahayana Buddhism. The text likely took shape in the first century CE and is chanted regularly in monastic and lay communities throughout the world. The Chinese monk Fa-tsang, who wrote a famous commentary on this sutra around the year 700 CE, said, “The Heart Sutra is a great torch that lights the darkest road, a swift boat that ferries us across the sea of suffering.” Contemporary translator Red Pine says, “The Heart Sutra is Buddhism in a nutshell. It covers more of the Buddha’s teachings in a shorter span than any other scripture, and it does so without being superficial or commonplace.”

Please join us for an exploration of this beautiful sutra on September 24. We’ll explore the sutra’s history, significance, and key terms. We’ll also connect the Sino-Japanese version that we chant with its English translations, and practice some techniques for memorization. Together, we’ll deepen our sense of connection with the Heart Sutra in our own hearts.

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Leaders

Hogen Raka Banerjee is a novice priest with Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community and has been a student of Sensei Joshin Byrnes since 2018. Her practice is a braided faith of non-dual spiritual traditions, namely Zen Buddhism alongside Advaita Vedanta, her root tradition. She is a graduate of the Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Program at Upaya Zen Center and lives in Seattle, WA.

Gansho Clark Hanjian is a long-time student of Buddhist practice, a graduate of the Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Program at Upaya Zen Center, and was recently ordained by Joshin sensei. He leads Beach Plum Zen, a small practice group in Massachusetts.

MAKA HANNYA HARAMITA SHINGYO

KAN JI ZAI BO SA GYO JIN HAN NYA HA RA MI TA JI SHO KEN GO ON KAI KU DO IS SAI KU
YAKU SHA RI SHI SHIKI FU I KU KU FU I SHIKI SHIKI SOKU ZE KU KU SOKU ZE SHIKI JU SO GYO
SHIKI YAKU BU NYO ZE SHA RI SHI ZE SHO HO KU SO FU SHO FU METSU FU KU FU JO FU ZO
FU GEN ZE KO KU CHU MU SHIKI MU JU SO GYO SHIKI MU GEN NI BI ZES SHIN NI MU SHIKI
SHO KO MI SOKU HO MU GEN KAI NAI SHI MU I SHIKI KAI MU MU MYO YAKU MU MU MYO
JIN NAI SHI MU RO SHI YAKU MU RO SHI JIN MU KU SHU METSU DO MU CHI YAKU MU TOKU I
MU SHO TOK KO BO DAI SAT TA E HAN NYA HA RA MI TA KO SHIN MU KE GE MU KE GE KO
MU U KU FU ON RI IS SAI TEN DO MU SO KU GYO NE HAN SAN ZE SHO BUTSU E HAN NYA HA
RA MI TA KO TOKU A NOKU TA RA SAM MYAKU SAM BO DAI KO CHI HAN NYA HA RA MI TA
ZE DAI JIN SHU ZE DAI MYO SHU ZE MU JO SHU ZE MU TO DO SHU NO JO IS SAI KU SHIN
JITSU FU KO KO SETSU HAN NYA HA RA MI TA SHU SOKU SETSU SHU WATSU
GYA TEI GYA TEI HA RA GYA TEI HARA SO GYA TEI BO JI SOWA KA HAN NYA SHIN GYO

The Sutra on the Heart of Realizing Wisdom Beyond Wisdom

Avalokiteshvara, who helps all to awaken, moves
in the deep course of realizing wisdom beyond
wisdom, sees that all five streams of body, heart,
and mind are without boundary, and frees all from
anguish.

O Shariputra, form is not separate from
boundlessness; boundlessness is not separate from
form. Form is boundlessness; boundlessness is
form. Feelings, perceptions, inclinations, and
discernment are also like this.

O Shariputra, boundlessness is the nature of all
things. It neither arises nor perishes, neither stains
nor purifies, neither increases nor decreases.

Boundlessness is not limited by form, nor by
feelings, perceptions, inclinations, or discernment.
It is free of the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and
mind; free of sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and
any object of mind; free of sensory realms
including the realm of mind. It is free of ignorance
and the end of ignorance.

Boundlessness is free of old age and death,
and free of the end of old age and death.
It is free of suffering, arising, cessation
and path, and free of wisdom and
attainment.

Being free of attainment, those who help all
to awaken abide in the realization of wisdom
beyond wisdom and live with an unhindered
mind.

Without hindrance, the mind has no fear.
Free from confusion, those who lead all to
liberation embody profound serenity.

All those, in the past, present, and future,
who realize wisdom beyond wisdom,
manifest unsurpassable and thorough
awakening.

Know that realizing wisdom beyond wisdom is
no other than this wondrous mantra, luminous,
unequalled, and supreme. It relieves all suffering.
It is genuine, not illusory.

So, set forth this mantra of realizing wisdom
beyond wisdom. Set forth this mantra that
says:

Gaté, gaté, paragaté, parasamgaté,
Bodhi! Svaha!