# heart sutra in Buddhism **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 3, 2019, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127 "2019-08-03T19:17:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/1 "2019-08-03T19:17:55Z")
> **[The Heart Sutra Will Change You Forever](https://www.lionsroar.com/the-heart-sutra-will-change-you-forever/)** > > Penetrate the true meaning of the Heart Sutra, says Karl Brunnhölzl, and nothing will be the same again. The secret is making it personal. So apparently the point of this one is to undo essentially everything else you were taught about in the school of Buddhism. It seems rather counter productive to me really. Why go through the trouble of learning all that only to just have to throw it all out. What it actually says is supposedly radical that most say it’s nonsense (like saying that our feelings, thoughts, and emotions, etc are invalid and don’t exist). It just seems like the weirder aspect among many religions I have come to know in the past. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/2 "2019-08-03T19:34:34Z")
Myself, I’ve always preferred the parathyroid sutra. Really leaves lump in my throat. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/3 "2019-08-03T19:46:03Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Myself, I’ve always preferred the parathyroid sutra. Really leaves lump in my throat. Hardy har har. I’m serious here. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/4 "2019-08-03T22:02:14Z")
Because they way it sounds they make it seem like anything else they taught is a waste of time and that the true reality is nothing that we take it to be. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/5 "2019-08-03T22:32:39Z")
As for the lung sutra, it is really breathtaking. But the nephron sutra just leaves me pissed. And I don’t have the guts to deal with the duodenum sutra. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2019, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/6 "2019-08-03T23:18:27Z")
I always get a chuckle out of the humerus sutra. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2019, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/7 "2019-08-04T01:30:47Z")
I’m looking forward to driving the new Toyota Sutra in my Swim Sutra! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2019, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/8 "2019-08-04T01:54:47Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > I’m looking forward to driving the new Toyota Sutra in my Swim Sutra! [shrugs] Sutra self. [/shrugs] ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2019, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/9 "2019-08-04T04:18:02Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > As for the lung sutra, it is really breathtaking. But the nephron sutra just leaves me pissed. And I don’t have the guts to deal with the duodenum sutra. Seriously, I didn’t want to read it because the last thing I need is some severe existential crisis. And it’s called the heart because it gets directly at the heart of what reality is like. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2019, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/10 "2019-08-04T09:41:37Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > And it’s called the heart because it gets directly at the heart of what reality is like. Because it _supposedly_ gets at the heart of what reality is. Or: it _allegedly_ gets at the heart of things. Or it _ostensibly_ does. Or you could say it _claims_ to do that; or you could, if you’re so inclined, throw in a _mayhap_. Just some kind of reminder that, hey, folks say a lot of stuff, but sometimes they don’t actually mean it. Or they mean it, but they’re incorrect; maybe they heard it from a guy who didn’t actually mean it, or who meant it but was incorrect. Or maybe there was some kind of misunderstanding due to a miscommunication. Or, y’know, a lie. All I’m saying is, right there you breezily stated that bit as if it were _true_; and if you do that habitually, for all I know you could find yourself taking stuff seriously by _default_: by dint of having recited it when you could’ve, uh, not done that. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2019, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/11 "2019-08-04T13:28:49Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > [shrugs] Sutra self. [/shrugs] Kamagain…? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2019, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/12 "2019-08-04T14:08:20Z")
No Problem, Bodhi. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/13 "2019-08-04T17:18:51Z")
**OP** - I don’t understand why you keep posting these esoteric Buddhism questions on the SDMB. Although there are some folks here that are knowledgeable about Buddhism, this is probably not the best venue for answering your questions. My wife, who is a follower of the NKT, suggested you go to their Facebook group and post your questions there: > [@](#): > > [Students and Followers of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso | Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/groups/45433823612/?fref=nf) > > Facegook group: Everyone welcome > > Students and Followers of Kelsang Gyatso I’m sure there are other groups on the web that might be more helpful (and less snarky) than the SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2019, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/14 "2019-08-04T18:03:13Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > **OP** I’m sure there are other groups on the web that might be more helpful (and less snarky) than the SDMB. The OP does not want to discuss Buddhist texts with Buddhists, apparently. If I understand correctly, he wants someone to prove to him in detail that the Buddhist texts are NOT true. However, it seems there are no ex-Buddhists here with sufficient knowledge to do that. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2019, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/15 "2019-08-04T18:17:04Z")
His interpretation of Buddhist doctrine and precepts fully excludes the mundane ‘traditional’ interpretation. He most assuredly does NOT want to engage with the Buddhists on the board. It’s all talking at cross purposes as his take on concepts and words is unique unto himself. He also doesn’t want to join a temple or a community to improve his understanding in the slightest. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2019, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/16 "2019-08-04T18:24:56Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > The OP does not want to discuss Buddhist texts with Buddhists, apparently. > > If I understand correctly, he wants someone to prove to him in detail that the Buddhist texts are NOT true. However, it seems there are no ex-Buddhists here with sufficient knowledge to do that. Is there even such a thing as an ex-Buddhist? It just isn’t something you ex. On another thread a few actual Buddhists tried to tell him stuff about Buddhism but he wasn’t interested at all. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2019, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/17 "2019-08-04T18:35:46Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Is there even such a thing as an ex-Buddhist? It just isn’t something you ex. Try googling ‘ex-Buddhist’. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2019, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/18 "2019-08-04T19:20:23Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > His interpretation of Buddhist doctrine and precepts fully excludes the mundane ‘traditional’ interpretation. > > He most assuredly does NOT want to engage with the Buddhists on the board. It’s all talking at cross purposes as his take on concepts and words is unique unto himself. > > He also doesn’t want to join a temple or a community to improve his understanding in the slightest. Wow, you are really busting his balls sutra. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2019, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/19 "2019-08-04T19:51:58Z")
This is giving me flashbacks to “brain-based learning,” which gained force as an educational movement in Thailand for a while during my time there. Really. And I always wondered if that was an alternative to, say, spleen-based learning. ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2019, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/20 "2019-08-05T22:41:25Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > Seriously, I didn’t want to read it because the last thing I need is some severe existential crisis. And yet, here we are…again. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127.md?page=2)