An introduction to the perfection of wisdom sutras
Venerable Thubten Chodron 
Heart Sutra 
Dec 19, 2025 A talk given at the Poh Ming Tse Temple in Singapore. The talk is a commentary on the "The Heart of Wisdom Sutra".
- There are different perfections of wisdom
- The setting for the “Heart Sutra”
- The meaning of inherent existence
- Things are only conventions, but we project inherent existence on them
- How the bodhisattvas on the first two paths practice
- The four profundities
- “Form is empty”
- “Emptiness is form”
- “Emptiness is not other than form”
- “Form also is not other than emptiness”
- Phenomena have no inherently existent characteristics
- There is no inherently existent production or ceasing
- No inherently existent defilement or separation from defilement
- Questions and answers
An introduction to the perfection of wisdom sutras (download)
Venerable Thubten Chodron
Venerable Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners. She is well known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings. She was ordained as a Buddhist nun in 1977 by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche in Dharamsala, India, and in 1986 she received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan. Read her full bio.
