# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/21 "2019-08-06T03:43:19Z")
> [@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. Because in the past when I discussed this with them weren’t helpful and in fact just exposed me to more material that made it all worse. Like this quote from the page: ‘The experiences of the son of a childless woman do not exist. This meditation gives us everything.’ ---
**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 6, 2019, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/22 "2019-08-06T04:03:43Z")
So, the answer given to a question about worthless gibberish is worthless gibberish? Shocker. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/23 "2019-08-06T04:24:39Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > Because in the past when I discussed this with them weren’t helpful and in fact just exposed me to more material that made it all worse. > > Like this quote from the page: > > ‘The experiences of the son of a childless woman do not exist. This meditation gives us everything.’ It’s been years since I studied Buddhism, but that quote is fully consistent with other statements that I’ve seen. Contemplating paradox is a common element in meditation. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/24 "2019-08-06T09:08:10Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > 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. Are you familiar with the works of the Great Master [Terry Pratchett?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lie-to-children) ---
**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 6, 2019, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/25 "2019-08-06T11:50:11Z")
You can never understand Buddhism - or any other religion, for that matter - by reading random blog posts and random bits of scripture. If you seriously want to learn about Buddhist scriptures from an academic perspective (rather than from a Buddhist perspective), then do this free online course from Harvard University, or something similar. Harvard University: [Buddhism Through Its Scriptures](https://online-learning.harvard.edu/course/buddhism-through-its-scriptures) 4 week course, 5-10 hours per week, self-paced, FREE. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/26 "2019-08-06T13:03:30Z")
I thought the OP was about something along the lines of the saying from Zen Buddhism made famous by the well known monk Donovan: “First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.” I.e., obviously a mountain is real, but reality is an illusion so it’s not, but that illusion is what reality is made of so it is. (Or something like that.) But seeing the remarks being posted I checked the OP’s link and then read further. Nope, doesn’t even come close to anything like this. A major disconnect between the OP and the Sutra being discussed. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/27 "2019-08-06T18:22:25Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Are you familiar with the works of the Great Master [Terry Pratchett?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lie-to-children) That doesn’t really apply in this case, or with what I linked. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/28 "2019-08-06T18:31:48Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > I thought the OP was about something along the lines of the saying from Zen Buddhism made famous by the well known monk Donovan: > > “First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.” > > I.e., obviously a mountain is real, but reality is an illusion so it’s not, but that illusion is what reality is made of so it is. (Or something like that.) > > But seeing the remarks being posted I checked the OP’s link and then read further. Nope, doesn’t even come close to anything like this. > > A major disconnect between the OP and the Sutra being discussed. There isn’t, they don’t show it because they literally warn people about what it can do to you. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/29 "2019-08-06T20:35:03Z")
Hence why I didn’t want to read it. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/30 "2019-08-06T21:35:51Z")
And also how I can tell that people on here have not read the link that I posted. ---
**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 6, 2019, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/31 "2019-08-06T22:46:31Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > And also how I can tell that people on here have not read the link that I posted. Or maybe the rest of us here aren’t irredeemably gullible to [deepity](https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Deepity) [useless mental masturbation](https://plumvillage.org/news/thich-nhat-hanh-new-heart-sutra-translation/). I read the heart sutra and rolled my eyes (sutra) on how so many millions of people can be so deluded into thinking that crap like that is profound, meaningful, or important. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/32 "2019-08-07T01:56:29Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > Hence why I didn’t want to read it. So why this thread? ---
**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 7, 2019, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/33 "2019-08-07T02:09:24Z")
Buddhist clickbait: _This one simple sutra will blow your mind!_ ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/34 "2019-08-07T03:03:53Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Or maybe the rest of us here aren’t irredeemably gullible to [deepity](https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Deepity) [useless mental masturbation](https://plumvillage.org/news/thich-nhat-hanh-new-heart-sutra-translation/). I read the heart sutra and rolled my eyes (sutra) on how so many millions of people can be so deluded into thinking that crap like that is profound, meaningful, or important. Are you sure you read it? I mean those who speak of it claim it’s profoundly life changing. That’s part of the reason I don’t dismiss Buddhism easily as it seems to change folks who practice it which means it must have some level of truth to it right? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/35 "2019-08-07T03:20:51Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > Are you sure you read it? I mean those who speak of it claim it’s profoundly life changing. That’s part of the reason I don’t dismiss Buddhism easily as it seems to change folks who practice it which means it must have some level of truth to it right? No. ---
**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 7, 2019, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/36 "2019-08-07T05:57:30Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > That’s part of the reason I don’t dismiss Buddhism easily as it seems to change folks who practice it which means it must have some level of truth to it right? Yes, Buddhism changes folks who practice it… Also: Christianity changes folks who practice it… Judaism changes folks who practice it… Islam changes folks who practice it… Hinduism changes folks who practice it… Scientology changes folks who practice it… Atheism changes folks who practice it… Science changes folks who practice it… Art changes folks who practice it… Philosophy changes folks who practice it… Psychotherapy changes folks who practice it… … whether for the better or for the worse, is another question. 🙂 ---
**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 7, 2019, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/37 "2019-08-07T06:24:24Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > I mean those who speak of it claim it’s profoundly life changing. If only there had been an ancient Asian Ned Flanders to [take care of that](https://youtu.be/mGBxUNaQI1I?t=10). ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/38 "2019-08-07T08:19:02Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > That doesn’t really apply in this case, or with what I linked. Oh, doesn’t it? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2019, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/39 "2019-08-07T09:28:16Z")
You seem to have a very transaction-based approach toward philosophy and religion, **Machinaforce**. It’s all about how it benefits me, me, me. Instead of worrying about what Buddhism can do for you, how about you start thinking about what you can do for Buddhism? ---
**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 7, 2019, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heart-sutra-in-buddhism/838127/40 "2019-08-07T17:03:14Z")
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