The Heart Sutra is “the essence of the Buddha’s teachings on wisdom,” according to Buddhist Thich Nhat Hanh. It is writing that is chanted every day. Your Heart Sutra is in your own words, from your own heart, and no one else’s.

Write your own Heart Sutra! Learn how Thich Nhat Hanh suggests you do this here:

“There are moments when we feel very grateful for the other person in our life. … Withdraw yourself to a quiet room and write down your feeling of gratitude. [This is your Heart Sutra.] This moment of gratitude is a moment of enlightenment, of mindfulness, of intelligence. It is a manifestation from the depths of your consciousness. … Keep your Heart Sutra in a sacred place. Try to chant your sutra often.”

Adapted from Anger, by Thich Nhat Hanh (Riverhead Books, 2001).