Record of Traces and Dreams: The Heart Sutra

About the Book

“The purpose of a reclusive monk such as myself audaciously presenting a volume like this is to transmit the True Dharma and the Great Compassion of Buddha. In doing this, I wish to highlight the fact that the Heart Sutra is an outstanding guidebook for the path to liberation and for the practice of the Buddha Way. This sutra describes the Ultimate Path in a most straightforward manner. I would like you to know that by exerting yourself daily in the way it describes the time will come without a doubt when the results of your effort will manifest.”

—Master Kido Inoue

To fully understand the meaning of the Heart Sutra, one cannot simply follow, or have faith in what it is says, without detailed analysis. The Heart Sutra cannot be fully grasped with pure intellect alone. Practicing the True Way requires you to throw away all things and to forget the ego.

When the words are approached with both the mind and the heart, its full understanding will naturally be revealed through practice. Because of this, the guidance of a real Dharma Master (or Roshi)—such as Master Kido Inoue—is required. Here, he shares his teachings in a straightforward and honest fashion.

About the Author

Roshi Inoue Kido was born in 1940 and took his first religious vows at thirteen. In 1962, he received a bachelor of arts degree in Oriental philosophy at Aichi University. From 1962 to 1984, he practiced at Shorinkutsu Seminary under Gikoh Inoue Roshi and Daichi Inoue Rohni. In 1981, he was appointed head priest of Kaizoji, and in 1984 he became the fifth abbot of Shorinkutsu Seminary. He has written several books on Zen in Japanese.