Forty years ago after learning of the Heart Sutra in Japan Alex Kerr set out on a quest to
seek the wisdom that lies at the heart of this ancient Buddhist scripture. Guided by Zen abbots
in Kyoto Tibetan monks a French writer an American art collector a magician and the
writings of Chinese scholars over the centuries he came to see how this brief poem on
emptiness is a storehouse of a universe of thought.Travelling from Japan Korea and China to
India Mongolia Tibet and Vietnam this intimate book weaves together memory history and
calligraphy. Alex reveals us to the many ways the Heart Sutra continues to influence the
culture of Japan - and the world - today.
