Ceaseless Echoes of the Great Silence: A Commentary on the Heart Sutra

Revised Third Edition with expanded glossary. "I bow to Prajnaparamita, the Wisdom Gone Beyond! These days, throughout the world and especially in this powerful nation of America, it is common to see developments in the fields of science that are increasing our general understanding of how matter exists and functions from an external point of view. The scientists doing this research deserve continuous praise for their analyses of various aspects of reality; regardless of whether or not they believe in the Buddha, their work has confirmed many aspects of his teaching. However, science alone has not shown that it is capable of dispelling suffering or producing blissful experiences in any ultimate way. To achieve ultimate results, we need to look inward to the vast and exceedingly profound mind itself, and discover its mode of being. Since this is not easily done-in fact, it is extremely difficult-one generally needs to find and follow a flawless path. The Prajnaparamita is just such a path. By steadily relying on its perfect view, it is possible to dispel all suffering and produce untold benefit and happiness for both self and others, as did countless scholar-practitioners who appeared and were witnessed in ancient India and Tibet. The view they attained is like the sky, free from conceptual extremes; it is like the sun, clearing away the dark clouds of ignorance; and it is like the moon, emitting cool rays of calm and bliss."