Heart Sutra (佛祖心燈)

About 佛祖心燈

1,412 · about 5 min

The Buddha's Heart Lamp is an important Chan Buddhist scripture, traditionally attributed to the great Tang dynasty master Baizhang Huaihai, though it was actually compiled by later Chan disciples. Using the lamp as a metaphor for the mind, the text systematically expounds the essential principles of the Chan method, emphasizing the core aim of practice: to illuminate the mind and realize one's true nature, pointing directly to the human heart. Its content covers Chan monastic regulations, stages of practice, and the mind-to-mind transmission between teacher and disciple, embodying the distinctive Chan characteristics of "not relying on words and scriptures" and "a special transmission outside the teachings." Occupying a pivotal role in Buddhist history, it serves as a vital text for studying Chan thought and its disciplinary systems, exerting a profound influence on the development of later Chan communities.