Free Downloads New Heart Of Wisdom: Profound Teachings From Buddha's Heart
This new and revised commentary to the Heart Sutra—the best known and most popular of all Buddhist scriptures—reveals both its direct and hidden meaning. The author skillfully explains the dream-like nature of all things, the relationship between our mind and our world, and the extent to which we create our own reality. He shows how we can develop and apply this profound understanding in our everyday lives in such a way that we come to experience a deep and unshakeable happiness.
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Tharpa Publications; 5 edition (September 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1906665044
ISBN-13: 978-1906665043
Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1 x 7.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #216,046 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #21 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Eastern > Buddhism > Mahayana #81 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Eastern > Buddhism > Sacred Writings #300 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Eastern > Buddhism > Rituals & Practice
The Heart Sutra is almost like the Pater Noster or the Al-Fatiha of Mahayana Buddhism. Although I'm a former Roman Catholic who became a 12er Shia Muslim, I admire the beauty and brevity of this Sutra. My favorite commentary on this sutra is the one by Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. However, a close second is this commentary by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. For those Tibetan Buddhists who have it in for the New Kadampa Tradition, don't worry, because I liked the Dalai Lama's commentary, also. Just not quite as much as Kelsang Gyatso's New Heart of Wisdom. Red Pine (Bill Porter) has a good one, also, as does Rulu. If I didn't mention your favorite Dharma Master's commentary, its probably because I haven't read it yet. (smile)Of course, Tibetan Buddhists use a slightly different version of the Heart Sutra than Zen Buddhists do. I like either version. Kelsang Gyatso's commentary gave some insights that were different from those of Thich Nhat Hanh's commentary, which is the result I hope for when reading commentaries of other Dharma teachers. Yet, even though Kelsang Gyatso is a Dharma Master in the New Kadampa Tradition and Thich Nhat Hanh comes from the Rinzai school of Zen, their teachings compliment each other very nicely.For someone interested in the New Kadampa Tradition, I would not start with this book. After reading The New Heart of Wisdom, I bought the free 3-Volume Kindle Book Modern Buddhism and liked it enough that I bought the hardcover edition for my bookshelf. Modern Buddhism is the place to start. If, like me, you just want some background on Buddhism and just want to start a meditation practice, these 3 books - Modern Buddhism, The New Meditation Handbook, and the New Heart of Wisdom, is probably all you need. Be aware that if you be a part of the New Kadampa Tradition, eventually they will ask you to only read books by Kelsang Gyatso, which I don't see as a problem for those who want to be certified as a New Kadampa Tradition teacher. As a 12er Shia Muslim, I'm mainly interested in Buddhism primarily to develop my meditation practice and secondarily because of my interest in Comparative Religion. I couldn't be a New Kadampa Tradition Buddhist because I only pray to One God, so not even the enemies of the New Kadampa Tradition can fault me for reading Kelsang Gyatso's books because I'm not going to pray to Dorje Shugden anyway. I love and respect Shakyamuni Buddha and believe he was/is a Prophet of God, as do many Shia Muslims and traditional Sunni Muslims (especially Sufis) do. One can buy Thich Nhat Hanh's Old Paths, White Clouds - his biography of Shakyamuni Buddha, at Islamic Bookstores that cater to Sufi Muslims, as well as Nhat Hanh's books on the Meditation practice. In the end, Kelsang Gyatso's New Meditation Handbook could be used, also.
Amazing book for non-beginners. The author writes very intelligibly even for begiiners. Because of this I can recommend this book for everybody who are intrested in this subject.
This new presentation of the classic Buddhist scripture, the Heart Sutra is written in a way that makes it easy to understand and put into practice. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso continues to make the ancient scriptures of Buddhism so accessible to today's modern world.I highly recommend!
I find thich nhat hanhs writings to be very inspiring and readable and preferred his commentary on this sutra. Geshe kelsang gyatsos book for me is harder to read. I am not an NKT member but find charles millers review to be laced with anger although he denies it. Surely the way of buddhism in this situation would be to be deeply mindful so that opposing views can be understood and any criticism which needs to be made can be done so in a humble and respectful tone.
A wonderfully accessible commentary to one of the most famous Buddhist teachings - the Heart Sutra. This explains the true nature of our reality; clearly a very profound topic, yet Geshe Kelsang explains it with great skill as with his other texts. Do not expect a page turner, but if you are willing to invest the time and contemplate each sentence deeply, you will be rewarded!
Of note are the across-the-board, 3-sentence, 5-star reviews this book has garnered so far. These 20-word minimum reviews all read as if they were written by the same person quoting the blurbs from the back of the book. If nothing else apparently Gyatso's books satisfy his follower(s), but newcomers should be aware of what they might be getting themselves into. [Please note I read the original book (Heart of Wisdom) this so-called "new" version is based on as they are basically the same, but believe the worth of this title is better evaluated by the author's actions more so than his hypocritical words. I read many Gyatso books when I was involved in his New Kadampa Tradition (NKT) years ago and before I learned of numerous red flags enumerated below.]For starters, Google "NKT" and the "Dalai Lama" and click on "Images" to see just how ugly they can get. Can you see yourself standing with this group of "spiritual" NKT members?"Geshe" Gyatso has his followers stalk the Dalai Lama around the world to angrily demonstrate against him because the latter rebuffed Gyatso and his practice of worshiping a so-called deity, Dorje Shugden. [I put his title, Geshe, in quotes since Gyatso gave it to himself. No authentic Buddhist sect recognizes his authority, which is reason enough to avoid this book.] I am not a Dalai Lama follower and I don't care about the Dorje Shugden non-issue, but do find Gyatso's unseemly anger to be the antithesis of Buddhism. When I expressed my concerns about this practice, members told me it is "compassionate anger" and frequently quoted a fable regarding the compassionate murder the Buddha supposedly committed in a previous lifetime to save the lives of hundreds of others. Do these folks understand the meaning of the word parable? Does this mean the Dalai Lama is a murderer too? Well in their minds, the answer is actually yes! An NKT-sanctioned/written book, and one funded by the Chinese, A Great Deception: The Ruling Lamas' Policies, claims such is the case! Really! It also calls the Dalai Lama: [1] a Nazi, [2] a Communist, and [3] a Capitalist, even though these things are mutually exclusive (not to mention untrue). Read the reviews for this paranoid title to learn more about Gyatso's New Kadampa Tradition and his jealousy-driven, petty non-issue. Anger, no matter what the excuse, is never compassionate and has nothing to do with genuine Buddhism.It is also noteworthy to consider the fact that Gyatso's NKT operates openly in communist China while Dalai Lama followers are routinely jailed (or worse) for their beliefs. The Chinese government funds NKT's activities there as an alternative (and weapon) against HHDL followers. Additionally, please be aware NKT profits never go to genuine charities, but rather, to fund NKT resorts, NKT golf clubs and their World Peace Cafes (all of which are staffed by unpaid volunteers) as well as promotional materials used for their aggressive evangelism. NKT is a profit-making organization in the truest sense of the phrase.Once this review is read by Gyatso supporters, the comments will claim I am "angry" and/or "deluded" (as they always do for my reviews of Gyatso books) because that is NKT's one-size-fits-all explanation for anyone who disagrees with their radical form of Buddhism. UPDATE: The second comment for this review calls it "an overflowing babble of hate speech" proving once again Gyatso followers never have any useful criticisms to make their point. This too is un-Buddhist-like and has more in common with Scientology than anything else. Indeed, both utilize guilt to manipulate their respective members, and both are pay-as-you-go "religions".If NKT members actually practiced what they preached, at worst they would ignore me or regard me as a mara (someone or something that distracts them from their practice). But since most are Buddhists in name only, they will rationalize their own anger as somehow being compassionate just the way they do when they rage at the Dalai Lama. I can't say I blame them though. This sort of behavior indicates just how ineffective Gyatso's teachings are with regards to imparting the peace that Buddhism yields. They simply do not understand the nature of the Dharma because their leader and roll model (Gyatso) sets the hypocritical example for them to follow.[Please note I am neither angry or deluded. I simply want to inform those who are interested in Buddhism to seek out mainstream, authentic Buddhist titles and practitioners for a genuine and valid experience with the Dharma instead of getting mired in Gyatso's bizarre and truly hypocritical version.]But never mind the controversy, if nothing else, Gyatso books are repetitive and mediocre at best compared to what else is available. Words used in the reviews thus far indicate they are not reviews at all, but rather, a collection of adjectives:- brilliant- amazing- profound- wonderful- timeless- priceless- classic- a deep treasury of wisdom- dripping with wisdom...seriously?! So what's the book about? It is Gyatso's commentary on the Heart Sutra, but in general, he merely regurgitates thoughts that are in all in his other books. Most of his titles are merely reworded versions of the others. If you own one Gyatso book, you have them all because this character has had nothing to add to the subject of the Dharma in many years, which is genuinely amazing considering Buddhism is perhaps the most complex of all theologies.Also be aware Gyatso can barely speak English, and that this title (like all the rest), have been "translated" and penned by his uncredited, unpaid assistants. Hmmm. Instead of taking seriously the few thoughts this rigid and controversial semi-author has, those interested in Buddhism would be far better served reading authentic, mainstream authors who cover the vast subject of the Dharma in a less repetitive and more effective manner.UPDATE 1: A comment states I should not "berate" Gytaso because of his attacks on the Dalai Lama. The rationalization is Gyatso (and his New Kadampa Tradition) do not war with the Dalai Lama as "as an individual" but rather, because he is the "leader of Buddhism" ...so it's okay, as if it makes a difference. Buddhists do not attack... not individuals as the comment states, but also not leaders, politicians, doctors, lawyers, janitors, whatever... Buddhists do not behave with aggression as it diametrically opposed to what Buddhism is really about. Having once been a member of NKT myself, this poster's comment is probably exactly how it was explained to him and other members by one of their so-called fortunate ones (Kelsangs). In spite of this rationalization, the fact remains Gyatso and his followers relentlessly wage a war of aggression against the Dalai Lama, be it as an individual or a political leader. Gyatso and his unseemly behavior has nothing to do with genuine Buddhism and I hope newcomers have their eyes wide open because NKT will try to the pull the wool over them with this sort of hypocritical double-speak.UPDATE 2: Another comment (and one by a person who has stalked my reviews to say the same thing) states this is not a review. Oh? And those other minimum 20 word, meaningless collection of adjectives 5 star reviews are?
Amazing, eye- opening, mind expanding, and life changing. Follow these instructions for a more fulfilling, peaceful and happy life.
A detailed, comprehensive, meditative explanation of the Buddha's famous Heart Sutra . . . This book changed my life!
New Heart of Wisdom: Profound teachings from Buddha's heart The Buddha's Teachings on Social and Communal Harmony: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon (Teachings of the Buddha) How Would Buddha Think?: 1,501 Right-Intention Teachings for Cultivating a Peaceful Mind (The New Harbinger Following Buddha Series) In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon (Teachings of the Buddha) The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikaya (Teachings of the Buddha) The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Digha Nikaya (Teachings of the Buddha) Great Disciples of the Buddha: Their Lives, Their Works, Their Legacy (Teachings of the Buddha) The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: A Complete Translation of the Anguttara Nikaya (Teachings of the Buddha) The Bodhisattva Path of Wisdom and Compassion: The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, Volume Two The Essence of the Heart Sutra: The Dalai Lama's Heart of Wisdom Teachings Essence of the Heart Sutra: The Dalai Lama's Heart of Wisdom Teachings Open Heart, Clear Mind: An Introduction to the Buddha's Teachings The Sun of Wisdom: Teachings on the Noble Nagarjuna's Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way Buddha Is as Buddha Does: The Ten Original Practices for Enlightened Living 12 Steps on Buddha's Path: Bill, Buddha, and We The Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha (Mentor) What is the Dharma?: The essential teachings of the Buddha The Buddha and His Teachings Gautama Buddha: The Life and Teachings of The Awakened One Teachings of the Buddha (Shambhala Pocket Classics)
