In this modern classic, world-renowned Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh presents a clear, concise translation and commentary of the Heart Sutra—the world’s most popular piece of Buddhist scripture.
Comprising only 632 Chinese characters, the Heart Sutra is Buddhism in a nutshell. Despite its brevity, this powerful work covers more of the Buddha’s teachings than any other scripture, and its influence is more profound and wide-reaching than any other text in Buddhism. Thich Nhat Hanh’s translation and commentary is regarded as the most simple, clear, concise, and understandable available. He describes the sutra as “a precious gift to us, the gift of fearlessness,” offering subtle and profound teachings on nonduality and the letting go of all preconceived notions, opinions, and attachments, thereby becoming open to all the wonders of our life.
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“Studying the basics of Buddhism under Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh is like learning basketball from Michael Jordan.”
— Amazon.com, editorial review, on The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching
“Exquisite teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. As simple and powerful as it gets. Strongly recommended.”
— Inquiring Mind“Thich Nhat Hanh modernizes and frees the Buddha—a tiny book of gem-like words.”
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Thich Nhat Hanh (1926–2022) was a Vietnamese Zen master, poet, scholar, and peace activist who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He wrote more than 100 books of poetry, fiction, and philosophy, with over a million copies in print. He survived three wars, persecution, and more than thirty years of exile. He was a Buddhist monk and the master of a temple in Vietnam, the lineage of which is traceable across two centuries to the Buddha himself.
Edoardo Ballerini, an American actor, director, film producer, and multiaward–winning narrator. He has won several Audie Awards for best narration, including for 2019’s Best Male Narrator of the Year. He was named by Booklist as winner of their 2023 Voice of Choice Award, and was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine in 2019. He has narrated over two hundred audiobooks, from classics to modern masters, from bestsellers to the inspirational, from Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners to spine-tingling series, and much more. In television and film, he is best known for his roles in A Murder at the End of the World, The Sopranos, 24, I Shot Andy Warhol, Dinner Rush, and Romeo Must Die. He is also trained in theater and continues to do much work on stage.