Mind Spark #20 - Letting Go Is Not Giving Up: A Personal Reflection on the Heart Sutra
- Shujian Zhang
- Aug 4
- 2 min read
Have you ever held onto something so tightly, a goal, an idea, a relationship, or an outcome, that when things didn’t turn out the way you hoped, it left you feeling exhausted or discouraged?
If so, you might find comfort in the Heart Sutra, a powerful Buddhist scripture I often turn to. It’s short (just 260 words), but it carries timeless wisdom. Instead of urging us to chase more, it gently invites us to let go.
Here are a few thoughts that came to me after reading (and reciting) some of its beautiful and profound lines:
"色即是空，空即是色。"Form is emptiness; emptiness is form."
“Form” refers to everything we experience, our thoughts, emotions, identities, and the physical world around us. A tree, a painful memory, a new idea; these are all forms.
“Emptiness” doesn’t mean nothingness. It means these forms aren’t fixed or permanent. They’re shaped by conditions, constantly changing. Like clouds drifting in the sky or waves rising and falling in the ocean, everything is in constant motion.
At work and in life, nothing stays the same. People come and go. Children grow up and one day leave the nest. Projects start and finish. What feels overwhelming today might seem normal tomorrow. Yet, we often try to hold on, as if we can stop change from happening.
Later in the Heart Sutra, there’s a line that struck me deeply:
"心无挂碍；无挂碍故，无有恐怖。""With no hindrance in the mind, there is no fear."
The “hindrance” here refers to our inner obstacles, such as fear, doubt, attachment, and ego, which cloud our peace and clarity. When we release these mental burdens, we can move through life with calm and courage.
I've always pushed myself to meet my goals, to excel, and to compete or compare with others. But sometimes, beneath my drive, I notice fear, fear of failing, of being judged. And when fear accompanies my actions, it becomes a distraction.
These two lines remind me: yes, the world is real, but it’s also constantly changing. And that’s okay, and it's part of life. I don’t need to cling so tightly. Letting go doesn't mean I stop caring. It just means I stop trying to control everything. I still do my best, but I also trust the process, because not everything is within my control.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to be Buddhist to find wisdom in the Heart Sutra. For me, it feels like a quiet friend whispering:
Live in the present. Let go.
Letting go doesn't mean giving up responsibilities or not caring.
It means releasing the struggle against what we can’t control.
It means showing up, doing what matters with kindness and wisdom, and trusting the rest.
When we let go of fear, doubt, attachment, we can truly enjoy the moment and give our full attention to what’s in front of us.
Thanks for reading. If you’ve ever read the Heart Sutra or had moments of clarity like this, I’d love to hear your thoughts as well.
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