The Heart Sutra of Transcendental Wisdom: Heart Essence of the Perfection of Wisdom
with Mark Edsel Johnson, Ph.D
April 19, 2020
2 to 5 pm
Participate ONLINE through video streaming provided by ZOOM.us
Following Sunray Meditation Society’s April 19th observance of the Planting of Seeds ceremony, which is part of the Tsalgi Annual Ceremonial Cycle, Mark will share the teachings, practice and writing of the The Heart Sutra with all those who are are called to plant the seeds of penetrating wisdom, love, and compassion.
Mark is long-time scholar, student and practitioner of Zen and Tibetan Buddhism. He holds a Ph.D in Buddhist Studies from a joint program between the National University of Thailand (Mahachulalongkornvidyalai) and Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy (SIBA). Mark currently is on the staff of the postgraduate department of Buddhist Studies at SIBA, and is author of the book Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation.
In this 3-hour workshop, Mark will provide instruction on The Heart Sutra of Transcendental Wisdom (Prajñaparamita Hṛdaya Sūtra). In addition, we will learn to chant the East Asian version of the Sutra as it is done in the Japanese style of chanting, based on the ancient Chinese text. This is a very powerful version of this Sutra and brings an opening of the heart and the eye of wisdom. It is considered a pathway to highest perfect enlightenment, and has proven to be so for many practitioners, both lay and ordained. We also will learn a few preliminary and supportive chants that are usually done in association with the Heart Sutra. We will chant them in both Japanese (which is easier to pronounce than Chinese) and in English.
When we do the chanting, we drop our thinking and go beyond the mind. The realization of the union of emptiness and appearance is the message of the Sutra and the mind cannot figure it out. So we let the mind go and access no-mind.
The study of and intoning of the Sutra, brings manifold blessings for oneself, one’s family and community, and for all beings.
Who Can Attend This Workshop?
This practice is a sutra practice and no initiation is required. In the sutra tradition, the empowerment is through joining the community in practice. Once this is done, you can chant any time, any place or occasion, in any posture. In East Asia, practitioners of the sutra will join the community for all-day chanting sessions. Sometimes these sessions go for three days. The sutra can be done as part of ‘spiritual athletics’, combined with hiking or running, especially in natural and sacred places, with stops for chanting of the sutra. The sutra is often chanted while immersed under a waterfall.
Also, it is considered very auspicious to write all or part of the sutra, especially in Chinese or in Sanskrit. Certain phrases are written out as calligraphy and displayed on altars in the home. For those interested in learning to write the Sutra in Sanskrit or Chinese, we will begin to learn how to write the title of the Sutra, which is just as powerful as writing the entire Sutra.
Read more about Heart Sutra meaning and outline of chanting …
What to Bring?
*A few sheets of blank writing paper, clipboard or hard surface to write on
*Black calligraphy, sharpie, or regular pen
*Comfortable cushion/pillow for floor sitting or chair
*Optional: Recommended book on writing of Heart Sutra: A Kanji Stroke Order Manual for Heart Sutra Copying by the Dutch artist Nadja Van Ghelue, available online.
Suggested Donation
$33.00
