The Heart Sutra, known and loved by Buddhist practitioners and non-practitioners alike, is one of the best-known Buddhist scriptures. The Heart Sutra presents the condensed essence of all the teachings on the Prajnaparamita, which is the perfection of transcendent wisdom, the view of emptiness. In the first half of Emptiness: The Essence of the Heart Sutra, the eminent Buddhist scholar Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche leads us, stanza by stanza, through the Heart Sutra. In the second half, Khen Rinpoche further explains the importance of emptiness. Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche is one of the three senior khenpos officiating at the Namdroling Monastery in southwest India. Khen Rinpoche has studied and practiced the profound teachings of Dzogchen (the Great Perfection) under the guidance of several great Dzogchen masters and has received all the major transmissions of the Nyingma tradition from His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and His Holiness Penor Rinpoche. He has been authorized by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche to transmit the Palyul lineage and Buddhist teachings and to give personal instructions to his disciples.

Emptiness : The Essence of the Heart Sutra: A Step to the Great Perfection, Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche, Palyul Clear Light, Paperback, 139 pages, $18.95

Khen Rinpoche has studied and practiced the profound teachings of Dzogchen (the Great Perfection) under the guidance of three great Dzogchen masters, His Holiness Pema Norbu Rinpoche, Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche, and Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok. In 1983 he was enthroned as a Khenpo (Professor of Buddhist studies both in theory and in practice) by HH Penor Rinpoche, and has now been given the status of khenchen (great khenpo). Khenchen Tsewang received all the major lineage transmissions of the Nyingma tradition from HH Dudjom Rinpoche, HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and HH Penor Rinpoche, and was authorized by HH Penor Rinpoche to transmit the Palyul teachings and give personal instructions to his disciples. For some 20 years Khen Rinpoche has travelled the world establishing and nurturing a number of Palyul Centres and teaching the Dharma. His warmth, wisdom, and easy humour have made him a beloved teacher wherever he goes. Among his disciples, he is affectionately known as Khenpo Guru.