Heart Sutra - new translation

I don't know if anyone else here reads Jayarava's blog, but it and Bhante Sujato's (who was my old teacher) are now really the only two Buddhist blogs that I read regularly - he's really interesting on philosophy, language, relationship to the history of Buddhism and Buddhist texts, etc. I don't try to follow his linguistic/grammar stuff (and am not a fan of his scientific materialism) but he's done a new translation of the Heart Sutra, taking into account up-to-date research into its history, language vicissitudes, etc, which I find really interesting (also interesting, the choice to translate 'dukkha' as 'disappointment,' though not one that's personally congenial to me).

I have a mixed history with the HS, having started out loving it but not at all understanding it as a Zennie, being a bit horrified by it as a Theravadan, and now having fond recollections though still seeing it as a text which is usually misunderstood and an unusual mixture of philosophy and devotion - but reading this new translation I had a real heart-struck (in the good sense) moment.

Jayarava - A New Sanskrit Heart Sutra

Generally my favourite translations of the Mahayana sutras have been Red Pine's (he's done the Heart, the Diamond, the Platform and most recently the Lankavatara), from the Chinese - Jayarava faults him but I find them really nice translations with excellent notes that are explanatory and useful without being dry or boring.

They always chanted the Heart Sutra at the Japanese Buddhist center I used to attend. In fact they chanted it while banging on a large drum, which was kind of fun. I quite like it, and am not geeky enough to fuss over translations. I find the new translation nice but I never found the others unpleasant. Nice. What a profound word.

One of the things I enjoy about Zen groups is chanting the HS with the drum, which sometimes is actually a "wooden fish" or mokugyo. It makes a deep, sharp TOK sound that keeps the vigorous tempo of the chant. Very focusing. My 1st Zen teacher used to say to let that focus carry the sound of the words deep, and not to think particularly about what they mean. But I always found the words inspiring, even if I wasn't trying to figure them out.

In my Zennie days, which was the first place I went for dharma/meditation practice, we used to chant the HS (in English) and I still find it running through my head quite often. Also enjoyed chanting the sharp syllabic Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo . The other one I'm getting currently in my head a lot is the homage to Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha beginning 'Araham, samma-sambuddho bhagava...'