Speaker:

Dr. Claire Sit Kwan-Yuk 薛羅君鈺

Moderator:

Dr. Y. C. Wan 尹耀全, Deputy Librarian, HKU

Date:

4 December 2014 (Thursday)

Time:

6:30 - 8:00 pm

Venue:

Special Collections, 1/F, Main Library, The University of Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Kwan-yuk Claire Sit graduated from the University of Hong Kong, moved to the US to attend graduate school, and earned a Ph. D. degree in pure mathematics from the City University of New York. She is Professor Emerita at La Guardia Community College. She has been deeply interested in the relationship between Eastern and Western philosophy. In her previous two books, The Lord’s Prayer, an Eastern Perspective and Lao Tzu and Anthroposophy, she explores this close connection with scholarly insight and methodical clarity.

薛羅君鈺畢業於香港大學，然後往美國進修，獲紐約市立大學數學博士學位，現在是拉瓜迪亞社區學院榮譽退休教授。她對東方西方哲學的雙互關係深有研究，曾以學者的洞察力，有條不紊地明晰這二者的密切聯繫，先後撰寫了兩本書：《主禱文: 東方觀點》 和 《老子與人智學》。

The main theme and purpose of the book, The Heart Sutra and Beyond, is to show how one may practice the perfection of wisdom.

Dr. Sit analyzes The Heart Sutra with metaphors, stories, and illustrations, in addition to excerpts from Buddhist scriptures, relevant Taoist texts, and anthroposophic teachings. She delves into Anthroposophy to explore the mystical connection between form and emptiness, between Buddhism and esoteric Christianity, between Buddha Gautama and the young Jesus, and between the future Buddha Maitreya and Jesus Christ. She applies her deep understanding of the two Chinese names for Avalokitesvara (Guan-zì-zài) and Sariputra (Shè-lì-zi) to reveal the essence of the sutra. Finally, she notes that anyone can gain great blessing by meditating on a short mantra presented in the sutra.

Her commentary on this timeless text brings profound insights to those who are new to The Heart Sutra, as well as to those who may have studied and practiced Buddhism for many years.

《心經以外》*這本書， 主要是探討如何修行「完美的智慧」。

薛博士以比喻、故事、插圖，並佛教、道教、和人智學等摘錄來分析心經。她深入研究人智學, 查察其對色與空的觀點、佛教與深奧基督教的關係、釋迦牟尼佛與少年耶穌的特殊關係、與未來彌勒佛和耶穌基督的密切聯繫。她利用「觀自在」和「舍利子」這兩個名字的中文深義，揭示了心經的主旨。

她總結指出，任何人都可以通過沉思默想心經提出的短咒，而獲得極大的福佑。 她的評述，對心經初學者、佛學勤修者，都會帶來裨益。

*目前，這本書只有英文版本。

About the Talk

Dr. Sit will focus on how the two Chinese names for Avalokitesvara (Guān-zì-zài 觀自在) and Sariputra (Shè-lì-zi 舍利子) can be a key to understand the sutra— “Guān-zì-zài 觀自在”declares the main theme and “Shè-lì-zi 舍利子”represents the various goals as advocated by the sutra. She will examine why form is no different from emptiness, using a modern fractal example and a classic Tao Te Ching saying.

薛博士將集中解釋「觀自在」和「舍利子」這兩個名字的中文含義，如何可視作了解《心經》的關鍵——「觀自在」宣示主題、「舍利子」代表經內所提倡的的各種修行目標。她還將採用現代分形學的例子，和經典道德經的名句探討為什麼「色不異空」。