Prajna Paramita Sutra Commentary by Buddhist Monk Geshe Dagri Rinpoche Tulku, Heart Sutra, Tibetan: Shes rab snying po'i mdo - www.Nalanda-University.com Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana (www.FPMT.org). The Heart Sutra is a member of the Perfection of Wisdom (Prajñāpāramitā) class of Mahāyāna Buddhist literature, and along with the Diamond Sutra, is considered to be the primary representative of the genre. It consists of just 14 shlokas or verses in Sanskrit and 260 Chinese characters in the most prevalent Chinese version, Taisho Tripitaka Vol. T08 No. 251, translated by Xuan Zang. This makes it the most highly abbreviated version of the Perfection of Wisdom texts, texts which exist in various lengths up to and including 100,000 slokas. This sutra is classified by Edward Conze as belonging to the third of four periods in the development of the Perfection of Wisdom canon, although because it contains a mantra (sometimes erroneously called a dharani), it does overlap with the final tantric phase of development according to this scheme. The study of the Heart Sutra is particularly emphasized in the practice of East Asian Buddhism. Its Chinese version is frequently chanted (in the local pronunciation) by the Chan, Zen, Seon and Thiền sects during ceremonies in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam respectively. It is also significant to the Shingon Buddhist school in Japan, whose founder Kukai wrote a commentary on it, and to the various Tibetan Buddhist schools, where it is studied extensively. A striking feature of the sutra is the fact that the teaching is not actually delivered by the Buddha, which places it in a relatively small class of sutras not directly spoken by the Buddha.

The commentator of these Sutra MP3 recordings is Dagri Rinpoche, is the reincarnation of Pari Dorje Chang, one of the very great geshes of Lhasa who was the teacher of many lamas, including Lama Yeshe. Dagri Rinpoche was born in Tibet in 1958. He grew up during the Cultural Revolution of 1966 - 1976. After his escape from Tibet in 1982 he completed his 17 years of study of Buddhist philosophy and received the Geshe Lharampa degree. Dagri Rinpoche was fortunate in that, as a high tulku (incarnate lama), he was able to apply to take his geshe examinations two years earlier than the other monks. Rinpoche understands well the difference between the life of a tulku in Tibet and a tulku in India. His life story shows that a tulku who lives under difficult circumstances can still remain faithful to his ideal of serving others and being an example to them.

After his recognition as a tulku, he was unable to go to his monastery because shortly after he was recognized, the monastery was destroyed by the Chinese. "I remained at home. From my father and the 'solpon' from my past incarnation I learned reading, writing, mathematics and the Tibetan language. Later I went to a regular elementary school and until I was 15 years old I also had to herd sheep and cows. Then the Chinese began a coal mine near the mountains. I was put in that camp and had to do forced labor. Many Tibetans died there. Most of the people were illiterate but knew that I was the reincarnated Dagri Tulku, because he was very well known in that area. They had a lot of faith in me. So I became their teacher. In the evenings, after work, I taught them to read and write. Later I did administrative work in the camp, because in the meantime I had learned Chinese and how to do bookkeeping. All in all, they were very difficult years. Only after I had been in the camp for five years was I allowed to go to Lhasa, where many old monks lived. They were not permitted to stay in their monasteries. I met the former abbot of Sera Je in secret. He gave me the first vows. In the eighties, after the changes in the Chinese policy, monks from Sera came to me and requested me to go to India. My previous incarnation was renowned and I was encouraged to go to India for my education. Then many people collected money for me. It was very difficult to get a passport and I had to wait two years before I could leave. Only after my escape to India did I become a novice monk."

After Rinpoche's escape form Tibet, Lama Yeshe committed to support the incarnation through Sera Je, and then when Lama Yeshe passed away, Lama Zopa Rinpoche took the responsibility. Dagri Rinpoche is supporting Lama Zopa Rinpoche very much and can teach lam-rim, lojong and philosophy as well as give initiations, conduct fire pujas, and teach tantric commentaries.

Please chant one time or more the following Sanskrit Buddhist Mantras in order to help in studying and mastering these priceless Dharma wisdom-compassion teachings:

Maha Prajna Paramita: Gaté Gaté Paragaté Parasamagaté Bodhi Svaha!

Om Namo Vipashina Buddha Namaha!
Om Namo Lion's Roar Tathagata Namaha!
Om Namo Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva Mahasattva Maha Karuni Kaya Om Sarva Abhaya.

For immense memory like Ananda (who memorized all the discourses of the Buddha), chant the 37th Hand and Eye of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, called the "Jeweled Sutra Hand and Eye". To assist in memorizing mantras, sutras, chants, prayers, texts and other literature in order to teach and benefit beings and to relive their suffering, please chant line 57 of the Great Compassion Mantra: Mwo He Syi Two Ye. As told by Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva in the Dharani Sutra: "For much learning and extensive study, use the Jeweled Sutra Hasta-Netram Mantra 37 (lines 55-58). It goes like this: Syi two ye. Swo pe he. Mwo he syi two ye. Swo pe he. Nan. E he la. Sa la wa ni. Ni ye two la. Bu ni di. Sa wa he."

Om Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (Namo Di Zang Wang Pu Sa - Om Bo La Mo Ning Two Ning So Po Heh. Om Maha Prani-Dhani Svaha Om Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Maha Pranidhana Swaha, Om Namo Nitya Bhikshu Bodhichitta Bodhisattva Pranidhana Paramita Swaha. Om Ah Ksitigarbha Thlim Hum Om ah kshiti garbha thaleng hung)

Gate Gate Paragate Parasamagate Bodhi Svaha!

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