'An erudite and charming book . . . both a primer and a paean to one of the central texts of
Buddhism known as the Heart Sutra. . . Alex Kerr delves into the Japanese soul' Literary
Review The material world is itself emptiness.Emptiness is itself the material world. Powerful
mystical and concise the Heart Sutra is believed to contain the condensed essence of all
Buddhist wisdom. This brief poem on emptiness has exerted immense influence throughout Asia
since the seventh century and is woven into the fabric of daily life. Yet even though it rivals
the teachings of Laozi and Confucius in importance this ancient Buddhist scripture remains
barely known in the West. During the many years he has spent living in Japan Alex Kerr has
been on a quest after the secrets of the Heart Sutra. Travelling from Japan Korea and China
to India Mongolia Tibet and Vietnam this book brings together Buddhist teaching talks with
friends and mentors and acute cultural insights to probe the universe of thought contained
within this short but intense philosophical work. 'Marvellous ... a life's work ... a brilliant
literary form weaving reflections of the sutra with those on Alex's own magical mystery tour'
Alexandra Munroe Asian Art scholar and curator
