Podcasts religion Unity Church of Clearwater Heart Sutra

Heart Sutra

Published: Dec. 2, 2012, 4:59 p.m.

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The Heart Sutra is possibly the best known text of Mahayana Buddhism, and is said to be the pure distillation of wisdom. This relatively short selection of ancient wisdom is part of the much larger collection of about 40 sutras composed between 100 BCE and 500 CE.

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As with most Buddhist scriptures, simply believing in the teaching of the Heart Sutra is not the point, for it speaks of a Truth that cannot be grasped only by intellect. The idea is to keep the words of this simple prayer in our hearts so that true understanding unfolds by grace through sincere practice of peacefulness, fearlessness, and love. We find that these essential teachings are echoed in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures as well.

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The \\u201cBodhisattvas\\u201d mentioned in the Heart Sutra are idealized pure minded souls who express perfect love and experience \\u201cNirvana\\u201d \\u2013 the bliss of perfect freedom and peace. \\u201cThe Bodhisattvas rely on the Perfection of Wisdom, and so with no delusions, they feel no fear, and have Nirvana here and now. All the Buddhas, past, present, and future, rely on the Perfection of Wisdom, and live in full enlightenment.\\u201d

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