Reflections on the Heart Sutra
The Heart Sutra is one of the prolific Dharma foundations of Buddhism, not only within the Mahayana tradition.
Shakyamuni Buddha espoused this teaching in the simplest way so that all of who heard it may clearly understand the richness of its meaning and comprehend its life lessons. The Buddha taught the prajna paramita lessons for 21 years of his teachings.
It is seen as the ‘heart’ (essence) of wisdom within the Buddhadharma. Reflected in the Diamond Sutra, it is the most chanted Sutra in Buddhist monasteries and temples throughout the world.
When I first read and chanted this Sutra accurately and mindfully, I felt as if I finally had a glimpse my true self and my own Buddha within. Just as when I first saw a picture of the Earth from the Moon from the Apollo 11 mission, I felt a connection to the vastness of the universe and the pure awe of being a part of it. When we landed on the Moon in 1969, I was a child watching Star Trek reruns. My admiration and fascination of Gene Roddenberry’s vision didn’t hinder this feeling, it only inspired me further.
Just as the Earth looks different from space, and as it appears when we are on the surface; our sense and view of our true self is very different to what we perceive. The Heart Sutra is the view of the enlightened mind and enlightened eyes, just as our enlightened view from space upon this planet. Like the missions of Star Trek, we seek to explore an unknown universe within a realm of human actions, emotions, and frailties.
The word sutra in Sanskrit means ‘thread’. Something that binds together. The root for the word suture comes from this. The Heart Sutra binds the prajna paramita, the innate Buddha’s sacred wisdom… the truth to all living things and our place within the vastness of the expanding universe. It also forces us to see within and outwardly --with the enlightened eye, and to continuously develop our enlightened mind and heart. Just as a single candle cannot illuminate an entire building, the light of wisdom (maha) can, like the sun, illuminate our entire world, and beyond. The prajna paramita is the supreme wisdom that enlightens us to the highest of goals, to cease Samsara, and to awaken into the enlightened nature… the true nature. The eternal wisdom of the Buddha.
Paramita is defined as ‘crossing over’. Going to ‘the other shore’. To go from suffering, to nirvana (enlightenment).
Maha Prajna Paramita – To go from suffering to enlightenment by our innate wisdom. Nirvana therefore is not something that we must seek outside ourselves, but from within. It is the meaning of the Greek word Utopia, which means a place of no suffering and no worries about being provided for. In reality, we are far from this in the world and the world within ourselves.
Examine the beginning sentences of the Heart Sutra, “When the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion when practicing prajna paramita, realized that all five aggregates are empty, and became free from all suffering.” When he realized the nature of the human condition… his true self -- then the Bodhisattva was enlightened. Avalokitesvara explored a vast ‘strange new world’, and went to ‘where no one had not gone before’ – reaching from within, the complete truth… enlightenment… nirvana.
When we are able to see our true self, which is very different from our conventional belief, then we can become free from our delusions and ignorance.
To be our true self,
To awaken the Buddha nature within,
To be a Buddha.
This is the essence of the Buddhadharma. To be truly free from our fears and dissatisfaction. When we know our true self: this is Buddhism -- this is living the Dharma -- this is Nirvana!
We accomplish this from our study of the sutras and practice of meditation. Through our living as awakened beings, by living the Dharma... thus being an example of the prajna paramita.
To paraphrase, “My real self… the Final Frontier. This is the continuing mission of the Buddhadharma. To explore a strange new world. To seek out my life and the true essence of civilization. To boldly go, where I have never been before.”
Namo Amida Butsu
Originally presented as a "Dharma Glimpse" on Live Dharma Sunday presented by the Bright Dawn Institute of Oneness Buddhism (May 12, 2013).
©2013, Douglas Sanyo Reagan, PhD
Shakyamuni Buddha espoused this teaching in the simplest way so that all of who heard it may clearly understand the richness of its meaning and comprehend its life lessons. The Buddha taught the prajna paramita lessons for 21 years of his teachings.
It is seen as the ‘heart’ (essence) of wisdom within the Buddhadharma. Reflected in the Diamond Sutra, it is the most chanted Sutra in Buddhist monasteries and temples throughout the world.
When I first read and chanted this Sutra accurately and mindfully, I felt as if I finally had a glimpse my true self and my own Buddha within. Just as when I first saw a picture of the Earth from the Moon from the Apollo 11 mission, I felt a connection to the vastness of the universe and the pure awe of being a part of it. When we landed on the Moon in 1969, I was a child watching Star Trek reruns. My admiration and fascination of Gene Roddenberry’s vision didn’t hinder this feeling, it only inspired me further.
Just as the Earth looks different from space, and as it appears when we are on the surface; our sense and view of our true self is very different to what we perceive. The Heart Sutra is the view of the enlightened mind and enlightened eyes, just as our enlightened view from space upon this planet. Like the missions of Star Trek, we seek to explore an unknown universe within a realm of human actions, emotions, and frailties.
The word sutra in Sanskrit means ‘thread’. Something that binds together. The root for the word suture comes from this. The Heart Sutra binds the prajna paramita, the innate Buddha’s sacred wisdom… the truth to all living things and our place within the vastness of the expanding universe. It also forces us to see within and outwardly --with the enlightened eye, and to continuously develop our enlightened mind and heart. Just as a single candle cannot illuminate an entire building, the light of wisdom (maha) can, like the sun, illuminate our entire world, and beyond. The prajna paramita is the supreme wisdom that enlightens us to the highest of goals, to cease Samsara, and to awaken into the enlightened nature… the true nature. The eternal wisdom of the Buddha.
Paramita is defined as ‘crossing over’. Going to ‘the other shore’. To go from suffering, to nirvana (enlightenment).
Maha Prajna Paramita – To go from suffering to enlightenment by our innate wisdom. Nirvana therefore is not something that we must seek outside ourselves, but from within. It is the meaning of the Greek word Utopia, which means a place of no suffering and no worries about being provided for. In reality, we are far from this in the world and the world within ourselves.
Examine the beginning sentences of the Heart Sutra, “When the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion when practicing prajna paramita, realized that all five aggregates are empty, and became free from all suffering.” When he realized the nature of the human condition… his true self -- then the Bodhisattva was enlightened. Avalokitesvara explored a vast ‘strange new world’, and went to ‘where no one had not gone before’ – reaching from within, the complete truth… enlightenment… nirvana.
When we are able to see our true self, which is very different from our conventional belief, then we can become free from our delusions and ignorance.
To be our true self,
To awaken the Buddha nature within,
To be a Buddha.
This is the essence of the Buddhadharma. To be truly free from our fears and dissatisfaction. When we know our true self: this is Buddhism -- this is living the Dharma -- this is Nirvana!
We accomplish this from our study of the sutras and practice of meditation. Through our living as awakened beings, by living the Dharma... thus being an example of the prajna paramita.
To paraphrase, “My real self… the Final Frontier. This is the continuing mission of the Buddhadharma. To explore a strange new world. To seek out my life and the true essence of civilization. To boldly go, where I have never been before.”
Namo Amida Butsu
Originally presented as a "Dharma Glimpse" on Live Dharma Sunday presented by the Bright Dawn Institute of Oneness Buddhism (May 12, 2013).
©2013, Douglas Sanyo Reagan, PhD
'To Simply... Be.'
In this poignant scene from Star Trek: Insurrection, we are witness to a wonderful example of the Buddha's teaching. The miracle and beauty of the 'pure moment'. The moment of wonder, of sublime clarity, and our fullest sense of oneness within the universe -- when all is still, calm, and in virtuous harmony with all things.
The achievement of Enlightenment -- the moment all things become clear.
'Resting near a small waterfall, Picard and Anij sit on rocks, the captain staring through binoculars at their destination: caves set into distant mountains. Anij admires the captain, running her hand over his head, "It's been three hundred years since I've seen a bald man." He smiles at her. "I should warn you... I've always been attracted to older women." Just ahead, the babbling of the waterfall silences as the water becomes a fine mist, flowing more like sand than water. Picard wonders how Anij is able to do this, but she has no answer for him. They sit in silence and enjoy a "perfect moment" in which time slows and they are together. "
(Courtesy of Memory Alpha)
As they sit in silence, Picard gazing awestruck at the hummingbird stilled in flight. and absorbed in reflection of the miraculousness of their surroundings. Picture yourself in that location, in that situation, the stress of command and the need of performing the greater good! Yet pause, be stilled, be comforted...
This example of stillness... of our minds, our hearts, and in fact we may see the core of our being reflected in Anij and Jean-Luc's tranquility and peace.
Examples such as these should remind us to always live and be in and for that fleeting moment... happy, joyful, and visualize ourselves from the ties of samsara. When we still our minds, we are calm, at peace, and centered on the universe... as it really is. We can remind ourselves of the true purpose of this life... to be free of the continuation of our suffering.
The 'perfect moment"... may we all make time to stand still, and observe the pure beauty that surrounds us all, Once a day... everyday.
©2013, Douglas Sanyo Reagan, PhD
The achievement of Enlightenment -- the moment all things become clear.
'Resting near a small waterfall, Picard and Anij sit on rocks, the captain staring through binoculars at their destination: caves set into distant mountains. Anij admires the captain, running her hand over his head, "It's been three hundred years since I've seen a bald man." He smiles at her. "I should warn you... I've always been attracted to older women." Just ahead, the babbling of the waterfall silences as the water becomes a fine mist, flowing more like sand than water. Picard wonders how Anij is able to do this, but she has no answer for him. They sit in silence and enjoy a "perfect moment" in which time slows and they are together. "
(Courtesy of Memory Alpha)
As they sit in silence, Picard gazing awestruck at the hummingbird stilled in flight. and absorbed in reflection of the miraculousness of their surroundings. Picture yourself in that location, in that situation, the stress of command and the need of performing the greater good! Yet pause, be stilled, be comforted...
This example of stillness... of our minds, our hearts, and in fact we may see the core of our being reflected in Anij and Jean-Luc's tranquility and peace.
Examples such as these should remind us to always live and be in and for that fleeting moment... happy, joyful, and visualize ourselves from the ties of samsara. When we still our minds, we are calm, at peace, and centered on the universe... as it really is. We can remind ourselves of the true purpose of this life... to be free of the continuation of our suffering.
The 'perfect moment"... may we all make time to stand still, and observe the pure beauty that surrounds us all, Once a day... everyday.
©2013, Douglas Sanyo Reagan, PhD
_May all kinds of interferences, diseases and possessing spirits be pacified,
May we be separated from unfavourable conditions,
And may we achieve favourable conditions and everything excellent.
Through this fortune may there now be happiness and health.
May we be separated from unfavourable conditions,
And may we achieve favourable conditions and everything excellent.
Through this fortune may there now be happiness and health.
Similarities between Surak's Teachings and Buddhism
_
For many
science-fiction fans, Star Trek is one of the best series about stellar
adventure. The series showed that the first civilization to make contact to
Human is the Vulcan. Vulcans were noted for their attempt to live by logic
without emotional interference based on the Surak’s teachings. Some interests
arise from the Surak’s teachings because it shows similarity with Buddhism.
The Surak’s teachings followers – also called as The Movement of Surak; was a new Vulcan community that urged their followers to promote cultural revolution. This doctrine appeared when the Vulcans was in the period of time that equivalent to our ‘modern-age’ on Earth when the Vulcans engaged in a long Civil War. The civil war, fought for more than 1500 years, had devastated their civilization to the lowest point. After suffering a lot misery, a sage called Surak started to convince his people to form a new community for an everlasting peace. His teachings became widely accepted and regarded as the best solution to stop the war by adopting a non-violence culture, strict rationalism behavior and rigid emotional control with meditative techniques. They lived as vegetarian to avoid killing living beings and also despised anyone whom embraced their emotions freely. For describing these guidances, Surak’s teaching is actually very similar to Dharma, the teaching of Buddha.
A few episodes in the series narrated Vulcans whom were unwilling to adopt Surak’s teaching launched a nuclear bombing to kill Surak and his enlightened society. Then these Vulcan recidivists fled to colonize the twin planets Romulus and Remus, of which after many centuries later, their new civilization emerged as the Romulans, a ruthless and warlike civilization. The Romulans’ approach to solve many problems proved to be more aggressive than the Vulcans.
Back to the Surak’s and Buddha’s teachings similarities; it is unclear whether it is coincidental or intentional phenomenon by the Star Trek’s writer. Buddhism doctrine emerged in India 2,500 years ago by Gautama Buddha (623 – 543 BC) - who previously was a Sakyan prince named Siddhartha who later became a hermit. He taught His disciples the ‘Four Noble Truth’ namely ‘Karma – Law of causes and effects’, ‘Tilakkhana – Anicca (Impermanence), Anatta (Non Self Perception) and Dukkha (Sufferings)’, ‘Purnabhava – Law of Rebirth’, and ‘Paticca Samupadda – Law of Interdependent Arising’. If anyone could understand and practice these doctrines consistently, he or she will cultivate ‘Four Noble Qualities of Life’, namely Metta (Love), Karuna (Compassion), Mudita (Empathy & Sympathy), and Upekkha (Peace of Mind). From these four properties He said, the most difficult to obtain – because of its nature that requires a long, continuous and consistent self-cultivating; is Upekkha.
Upekkha is a state of steadiness in every Mind, Speech and Act – The Three Channel of Karma. Although quite difficult to be described, Uppekha is highly recommended to any Buddhists, to not be easily provoked by either good or bad situations. People with Upekkha show stable emotional manners, by not reacting aggressively; but to respond everything with a clear mind. Buddha stated that human mind indeed has a great ability to analyze anything and nothing in the world is unexplainable – Ehipassiko (come and see by yourself) and Sanditthiko (able to be examined). But some complicated matters need many other coexisting factors to be explained. There is a famous Buddha’s parable when being asked about the beginning and the end of the universe. He said that, “Human’s life is too short to explore everything. A man living in this world is like a person who were hit by a poisonous arrow. The wisdom I wish to share is whether you should first find the shooter or the poison antidote. If you try to find the shooter, you will lose your life sooner. So, I prefer you to seek the antidote first. That’s why at this moment, rather than thinking about that magnificent matter, better you focus on learning how to reach enlightenment”.
The method to achieving Upekkha taught by the Buddha is meditation, which is very similar to the method adopted by Surak’s follower in Star Trek series. In addition to Buddhism, the Buddha said not blindly to believe but a must to analyze with a clear mind before adopting any ideas from; ‘the words of people who are considered wise’, ‘the words in the writings that are considered sacred’, and even to ‘His own sayings’. According to Buddha, under different contexts or situations, these words will give different meanings. Any facts or truth is never absolute, because it heavily depends on the surrounding factors, which He outlined in His sermon noted as Patticca Samupadda.
In the Wikipedia, section about Surak, it correlates the teachings of Surak to Stoicism, an ancient doctrine by the philosopher Zeno of Citium; who also teaches 'freedom from emotions'. This doctrine appeared in the 3rd century BC as a popular Hellenistic philosophy in Athens, ancient Greece, which provided a great influence for the development of science in later era of Greece and Europe. Its core understanding is emphasized on a logical expression that 'The Explanations of all Questions can be obtained by finding the Reasons'. They also stressed the need for discussion, self-dialogue, and analysis with clarity of mind that gained from practicing meditation.
_
The Surak’s teachings followers – also called as The Movement of Surak; was a new Vulcan community that urged their followers to promote cultural revolution. This doctrine appeared when the Vulcans was in the period of time that equivalent to our ‘modern-age’ on Earth when the Vulcans engaged in a long Civil War. The civil war, fought for more than 1500 years, had devastated their civilization to the lowest point. After suffering a lot misery, a sage called Surak started to convince his people to form a new community for an everlasting peace. His teachings became widely accepted and regarded as the best solution to stop the war by adopting a non-violence culture, strict rationalism behavior and rigid emotional control with meditative techniques. They lived as vegetarian to avoid killing living beings and also despised anyone whom embraced their emotions freely. For describing these guidances, Surak’s teaching is actually very similar to Dharma, the teaching of Buddha.
A few episodes in the series narrated Vulcans whom were unwilling to adopt Surak’s teaching launched a nuclear bombing to kill Surak and his enlightened society. Then these Vulcan recidivists fled to colonize the twin planets Romulus and Remus, of which after many centuries later, their new civilization emerged as the Romulans, a ruthless and warlike civilization. The Romulans’ approach to solve many problems proved to be more aggressive than the Vulcans.
Back to the Surak’s and Buddha’s teachings similarities; it is unclear whether it is coincidental or intentional phenomenon by the Star Trek’s writer. Buddhism doctrine emerged in India 2,500 years ago by Gautama Buddha (623 – 543 BC) - who previously was a Sakyan prince named Siddhartha who later became a hermit. He taught His disciples the ‘Four Noble Truth’ namely ‘Karma – Law of causes and effects’, ‘Tilakkhana – Anicca (Impermanence), Anatta (Non Self Perception) and Dukkha (Sufferings)’, ‘Purnabhava – Law of Rebirth’, and ‘Paticca Samupadda – Law of Interdependent Arising’. If anyone could understand and practice these doctrines consistently, he or she will cultivate ‘Four Noble Qualities of Life’, namely Metta (Love), Karuna (Compassion), Mudita (Empathy & Sympathy), and Upekkha (Peace of Mind). From these four properties He said, the most difficult to obtain – because of its nature that requires a long, continuous and consistent self-cultivating; is Upekkha.
Upekkha is a state of steadiness in every Mind, Speech and Act – The Three Channel of Karma. Although quite difficult to be described, Uppekha is highly recommended to any Buddhists, to not be easily provoked by either good or bad situations. People with Upekkha show stable emotional manners, by not reacting aggressively; but to respond everything with a clear mind. Buddha stated that human mind indeed has a great ability to analyze anything and nothing in the world is unexplainable – Ehipassiko (come and see by yourself) and Sanditthiko (able to be examined). But some complicated matters need many other coexisting factors to be explained. There is a famous Buddha’s parable when being asked about the beginning and the end of the universe. He said that, “Human’s life is too short to explore everything. A man living in this world is like a person who were hit by a poisonous arrow. The wisdom I wish to share is whether you should first find the shooter or the poison antidote. If you try to find the shooter, you will lose your life sooner. So, I prefer you to seek the antidote first. That’s why at this moment, rather than thinking about that magnificent matter, better you focus on learning how to reach enlightenment”.
The method to achieving Upekkha taught by the Buddha is meditation, which is very similar to the method adopted by Surak’s follower in Star Trek series. In addition to Buddhism, the Buddha said not blindly to believe but a must to analyze with a clear mind before adopting any ideas from; ‘the words of people who are considered wise’, ‘the words in the writings that are considered sacred’, and even to ‘His own sayings’. According to Buddha, under different contexts or situations, these words will give different meanings. Any facts or truth is never absolute, because it heavily depends on the surrounding factors, which He outlined in His sermon noted as Patticca Samupadda.
In the Wikipedia, section about Surak, it correlates the teachings of Surak to Stoicism, an ancient doctrine by the philosopher Zeno of Citium; who also teaches 'freedom from emotions'. This doctrine appeared in the 3rd century BC as a popular Hellenistic philosophy in Athens, ancient Greece, which provided a great influence for the development of science in later era of Greece and Europe. Its core understanding is emphasized on a logical expression that 'The Explanations of all Questions can be obtained by finding the Reasons'. They also stressed the need for discussion, self-dialogue, and analysis with clarity of mind that gained from practicing meditation.
_
Buddhism: The Final Religion
What Buddhism has to offer a future world is nothing short of astonishing. Of course, speculation about a Star Trek like futuristic Buddhism will certainly generate skepticism and ridicule, especially from those who are strongly attached to theology and materialism. But if these critics have bothered to read the canon of Buddhism with an esoteric eye, as it should be read, the basis of their skepticism lies outside of Buddhism so as to be unworthy of a serious response. In the world of tomorrow in which Buddhism will, more than likely, be the world’s main religion, we will be able to decouple and re-couple, at will, with artificially engineered biological bodies. Death, and the fear of sickness, as we know it, will be a thing of the past. We will all primarily exist in thought-made bodies (manomaya-kaya); the form of which, according to the Buddha, is not deficient in any sense organ.
If, as these super beings, we desire to travel to other worlds to propagate the teachings of the Buddha out of compassion, we can either interface with artificial bodies, by which we will be able to fly our faster than light space craft, or we can directly enter the bodies of those we deem fit to teach. In this way, we will empower them so they may eventually alter the suffering matrix of their world. (We would also be able to transfer advanced technology to such people through our thought-made bodies.)
Being such an advanced race of beings who are in nirvana, which means we can couple with and decouple from artificially created bodies at will, our main mission will be to alleviate suffering where ever it exists in any star system, in any galaxy. Nothing would stop us from removing the dark veil of oppression and spiritual blindness that dominates the minds of primitive creatures throughout the universe. We would be very much like Plato’s Guardians described in the Republic.
Maybe five thousand years from now our technological advances should be so well along so as to make our present technology seen primitive. Along with this—and this is where Buddhism comes in—our ability to break our immediate interface with our biological body of birth and death, at will as a technique, will be significantly advanced which now seems almost impossible.
Such a world or worlds, I believe, already exist which we would find towards the center of our galaxy. These civilizations we can think of as being so spiritually advanced that being a Buddha is common place. From this we might consider Shakyamuni Buddha and other such humans as highly evolved Earth beings much like the appearance of modern man who eventually surpassed Neanderthals.
Well, does this sound crazy? Considering what has happened to me over these last forty years, which was the inspiration for this blog—some of it would make great science fiction, although it isn’t fiction. Among other things, I saw with my own eyes that being bound down to a body of flesh and bones by strong desire dummyfies us such that we close off what we can actually become in the way of compassionate super-beings (i.e., Bodhisattvas) who are cognizant of the luminous power of Mind.
If you’ve guessed that each of us has what it takes to make such a Star Trek like world a reality, you’re not wrong. What needs now to be done is to have great faith that we can transform our present almost-troglodyte-world into a Sukhavati (i.e., the pure land).
(Unknown Author, 25 February 2010. Used without permission from http://zennist.typepad.com)
If, as these super beings, we desire to travel to other worlds to propagate the teachings of the Buddha out of compassion, we can either interface with artificial bodies, by which we will be able to fly our faster than light space craft, or we can directly enter the bodies of those we deem fit to teach. In this way, we will empower them so they may eventually alter the suffering matrix of their world. (We would also be able to transfer advanced technology to such people through our thought-made bodies.)
Being such an advanced race of beings who are in nirvana, which means we can couple with and decouple from artificially created bodies at will, our main mission will be to alleviate suffering where ever it exists in any star system, in any galaxy. Nothing would stop us from removing the dark veil of oppression and spiritual blindness that dominates the minds of primitive creatures throughout the universe. We would be very much like Plato’s Guardians described in the Republic.
Maybe five thousand years from now our technological advances should be so well along so as to make our present technology seen primitive. Along with this—and this is where Buddhism comes in—our ability to break our immediate interface with our biological body of birth and death, at will as a technique, will be significantly advanced which now seems almost impossible.
Such a world or worlds, I believe, already exist which we would find towards the center of our galaxy. These civilizations we can think of as being so spiritually advanced that being a Buddha is common place. From this we might consider Shakyamuni Buddha and other such humans as highly evolved Earth beings much like the appearance of modern man who eventually surpassed Neanderthals.
Well, does this sound crazy? Considering what has happened to me over these last forty years, which was the inspiration for this blog—some of it would make great science fiction, although it isn’t fiction. Among other things, I saw with my own eyes that being bound down to a body of flesh and bones by strong desire dummyfies us such that we close off what we can actually become in the way of compassionate super-beings (i.e., Bodhisattvas) who are cognizant of the luminous power of Mind.
If you’ve guessed that each of us has what it takes to make such a Star Trek like world a reality, you’re not wrong. What needs now to be done is to have great faith that we can transform our present almost-troglodyte-world into a Sukhavati (i.e., the pure land).
(Unknown Author, 25 February 2010. Used without permission from http://zennist.typepad.com)