Wisdom Beyond Words: The Buddhist Vision of Ultimate Reality

The three texts that are brought together here, though divided in time by up to five hundred years, belong to the same group of Mahayana sutras: The first text the Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom Sutras) which is concerned with seeing reality everywhere, at all times, in all poaces, and under all circumstances. The second text, The Heart Sutra which constitutes the heart, or essence of the Prajnaparamita, gives us in a highly condensed form the essential meaning of all the perfection f wisdom sutras. The third text The Diamond Sutra which is an essential current in the mainstream of Mahayana Buddhism. Profound as these texts are, they are meaningless unless they are read-or rather, undertaken-as a device for the transformation of one’s life. And it is this understanding of the true value of spiritual texts, even very difficult ones like these, which inform all of Sangharakshita’s work. The present work is edited from recorded lectures and seminars led by Sangharakshita. It very largely represents his ad hoc oral teachings. If the result of bringing together these lectures and seminars, with their disparate angles on the Buddhist vision, is a clear and unified statement of essential Buddhist principles as illuminated, this is because Sangharakshita’s teaching is based on what now amounts to fifty years’ contemplation of those principles. With a rich and diverse experience, Sangharakshita is also able to leaven a formidable subject with anecdotes, both humorous and startling, and with strong doses of common sense.