Heart Sutra and Life Wisdom

Author: Pan Zongguang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: This book offers a correct and profound discussion on the principles of Buddhist understanding and practice. Professor Pan Zongguang, President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, approaches the exploration and explanation of Buddhist doctrines with an objective and dialectical scientific attitude. At the same time, he provides many correct, reasonable, and highly feasible methods for practicing the Dharma, which indeed serves as a practical guide for those who seek to understand and practice Buddhism. —Venerable Jueguang, President of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association
The Buddhist culture is vast and profound, with its development and dissemination spanning over two thousand years across different regions. However, it has been influenced by the languages and scripts of different times and places, creating difficulties for modern people in understanding it and leading them to hesitate or avoid engaging with Buddhism. Therefore, after publishing the traditional Chinese expanded edition of The Heart Sutra and the Wisdom of Life, I was encouraged and supported by my mentor, Venerable Jinghui, to release this book in simplified Chinese for distribution in mainland China. I hope this will allow more people to access this treasure of Chinese Buddhist culture.
Buddhism is a profound field of study, as it not only involves religious practice but also explains life issues from a rational perspective, with clear reasoning and without superstition. My education and work are closely related to science, so I also enjoy exploring Buddhism with the same pragmatic and truthful approach and have found many commonalities between Buddhist and scientific concepts. In this regard, my other book, Buddhism and Life, also addresses this topic. To help readers better understand the relationship between the concept of dependent origination in Buddhism and science, I have included this in this combined simplified Chinese edition for reference.
This book focuses on foundational explanations, integrating Buddhist doctrines into real-life contexts with numerous examples to make it easier for beginners to grasp. I believe that any field of study must start with the basics, and with the correct approach, further development will naturally be smooth. To put it simply, this book is written out of personal enthusiasm, sharing my ten years of understanding and experience with Buddhism. I hope to cast a stone to attract a jade, inviting knowledgeable individuals to offer their insights and elevate my level of Buddhist study through exchange. Of course, I also hope this book will inspire more friends to study Buddhism and share the joy of Buddhist practice together.