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The New Heart of Wisdom: Profound Teachings from Buddha's Heart
This completely new presentation by the author of Modern Buddhism offers truly liberating insights and advice for the contemporary reader. It reveals the profound meaning of the very heart of Buddha's teachings-the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras. The author shows how all our problems and suffering come from our ignorance of the ultimate nature of things, and how we can abandon this ignorance and come to enjoy pure, lasting happiness by developing a special wisdom associated with compassion for all living beings.
352 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2012
60 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
Kelsang Gyatso
215 books221 followers*'Geshe' is a Tibetan Buddhist academic degree for monks and nuns.
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche is a fully accomplished meditation Master and internationally renowned Teacher of Buddhism who has pioneered the introduction of modern Buddhism into contemporary society. Presenting Buddha’s teachings in a way that is relevant and suitable for modern people with busy lives, he shows how these teachings can be used by anyone, Buddhist or non-Buddhist, to solve problems, improve relationships and eventually attain a deep and lasting inner peace and happiness.
He has also created all the conditions necessary to support the study and practice of Buddhism in modern society: writing 22 highly acclaimed books that perfectly transmit the ancient wisdom of Buddha; establishing over 1,200 Kadampa Buddhist centers and groups throughout the world; developing modern study programmes; training qualified Teachers; and establishing local, national and international courses, festivals and retreats. Through all these and other activities Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche is giving new life to Buddhism, enabling people everywhere to discover inner peace and happiness through Buddha’s teachings, thereby bringing greater peace to a troubled world.
The term "Rinpoche," added to Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's name, is a Tibetan word that means "Precious One," and has been added as a mark of deepest respect.
To discover more about Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche’s compassionate vision and activities visit http://tharpa.com/us/benefit-all-worl....
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche is a fully accomplished meditation Master and internationally renowned Teacher of Buddhism who has pioneered the introduction of modern Buddhism into contemporary society. Presenting Buddha’s teachings in a way that is relevant and suitable for modern people with busy lives, he shows how these teachings can be used by anyone, Buddhist or non-Buddhist, to solve problems, improve relationships and eventually attain a deep and lasting inner peace and happiness.
He has also created all the conditions necessary to support the study and practice of Buddhism in modern society: writing 22 highly acclaimed books that perfectly transmit the ancient wisdom of Buddha; establishing over 1,200 Kadampa Buddhist centers and groups throughout the world; developing modern study programmes; training qualified Teachers; and establishing local, national and international courses, festivals and retreats. Through all these and other activities Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche is giving new life to Buddhism, enabling people everywhere to discover inner peace and happiness through Buddha’s teachings, thereby bringing greater peace to a troubled world.
The term "Rinpoche," added to Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's name, is a Tibetan word that means "Precious One," and has been added as a mark of deepest respect.
To discover more about Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche’s compassionate vision and activities visit http://tharpa.com/us/benefit-all-worl....
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 25, 2016
Have you ever wondered what it means to exist? How to remove yourself from human suffering? The Heart Of Wisdom seeks the answer to those questions. A dense, pace yourself read explaining a famous Buddhist teaching, you come out of the pages with a lot to contemplate. As a novice to the Buddhist practice this was an excellent indepth introduction to a core principle. The world looks to me a different place after this read.
December 2, 2017
Outstanding
Profound topic of major importance to us all explained with great clarity for modern people. If you ever wondered where you came from, what you're meant to be doing with your life and where you're going when it ends, this is a must read.
Profound topic of major importance to us all explained with great clarity for modern people. If you ever wondered where you came from, what you're meant to be doing with your life and where you're going when it ends, this is a must read.
December 18, 2008
Explicación muy clara y profunda del concepto de vacuidad y del sutra de la esencia de la sabiduria, que está increible.
December 10, 2024
De los libros más difíciles que he leído pero más rapido lo he acabado😂 me dio una gran introducción al Budismo y a la raíz del sufrimiento del ser humano PERO super complejo!!!!! Empecé muy fuerte jajaja
December 7, 2025
Got a deeper understanding of the six perfections and the ways in which to practice them and which non virtuous actions to avoid.
the preliminary prayers are in here as well.
the preliminary prayers are in here as well.
June 26, 2024
This is the clearest book I have read, once you get past the dogma. As with all of Kelsang Gyatso's books, you have to accept the author is a traditional religious monk and thus expect there to be conservative religious theology appended to the philosophy being taught. For those who are willing to put this to one side, a great beauty of philosophy of the mind and phenomena awaits.
The book, being an explanation of the classical scripture, the Heart of Wisdom (Prajnaparamita Hridaya) is topped and tailed with such religious elements by beginning with a story of the Buddha on a mountain surrounded not just by monks but gods and spirits. The end of the book instructs the reader on how to engage in meditation and recitation of a mantra to produce magical results such as rolling back the waves - take that King Cnut!
I implore the reader to look past this and focus on the high quality content in the middle as it is an absolute gem. Here you will get what I consider to be the best description of Buddha's most complex teaching, usually dubbed in English as Emptiness, which is essentially the true nature of reality. I would expand on this but believe it is best to leave it up to the book to explain. In addition it will explain the stages that one achieves as they reach the final steps to enlightenment with each one progressively getting more profound in understanding than the last.
Heart of Wisdom is a commentary of the original scripture which appeared late in Buddhist scriptural history. As such, the scripture is part of the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism.
It should be noted that this book is based on a thread of commentaries spanning from the early Nagarjuna (1st century CE), Chandrakirti (7th century) and Tsongkhapa (14th century) as well Kelsang Gyatso's own teacher (2oth century). This may not be obvious to the reader unless you have had extensive academic knowledge of emptiness. This may explain why the explanations are incredibly thorough and clear.
In fact, I would go as far to say that reading this book in my younger years helped to sharpen my mind in being more logical and deductive in my critical thinking. So, there should be benefit even for those who are not of the Mahayana tradition but have an interest in the elusive wisdom teachings. For those who want the full benefit of what this book offers, discussion, contemplation and classes may be required.
TLDR: One of the best explanations on Buddha's most complex teachings; emptiness. For anyone wishing to understand this topic or simply gain a new perspective of mind and reality, I highly recommend reading this; just don't get put off the dogmatic parts at the beginning and end.
The book, being an explanation of the classical scripture, the Heart of Wisdom (Prajnaparamita Hridaya) is topped and tailed with such religious elements by beginning with a story of the Buddha on a mountain surrounded not just by monks but gods and spirits. The end of the book instructs the reader on how to engage in meditation and recitation of a mantra to produce magical results such as rolling back the waves - take that King Cnut!
I implore the reader to look past this and focus on the high quality content in the middle as it is an absolute gem. Here you will get what I consider to be the best description of Buddha's most complex teaching, usually dubbed in English as Emptiness, which is essentially the true nature of reality. I would expand on this but believe it is best to leave it up to the book to explain. In addition it will explain the stages that one achieves as they reach the final steps to enlightenment with each one progressively getting more profound in understanding than the last.
Heart of Wisdom is a commentary of the original scripture which appeared late in Buddhist scriptural history. As such, the scripture is part of the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism.
It should be noted that this book is based on a thread of commentaries spanning from the early Nagarjuna (1st century CE), Chandrakirti (7th century) and Tsongkhapa (14th century) as well Kelsang Gyatso's own teacher (2oth century). This may not be obvious to the reader unless you have had extensive academic knowledge of emptiness. This may explain why the explanations are incredibly thorough and clear.
In fact, I would go as far to say that reading this book in my younger years helped to sharpen my mind in being more logical and deductive in my critical thinking. So, there should be benefit even for those who are not of the Mahayana tradition but have an interest in the elusive wisdom teachings. For those who want the full benefit of what this book offers, discussion, contemplation and classes may be required.
TLDR: One of the best explanations on Buddha's most complex teachings; emptiness. For anyone wishing to understand this topic or simply gain a new perspective of mind and reality, I highly recommend reading this; just don't get put off the dogmatic parts at the beginning and end.
March 4, 2013
An amazing book that helps us to better understand the nature of reality and our daily existence. Helps bring clarity to our interactions with the world around us and all of the living beings in it. One of my favorites!
March 7, 2007
Great starter book for the fundamentals of Buddhism.
May 5, 2007
I would have to disagree with Sarah; not a good choice for a beginner.
June 7, 2012
Excellent commentary to two concepts central to Mahayana Buddhism: love and compassion.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews