The Heart and Diamond Sutras

The Heart Sutra and the Diamond Sutra are two of the most famous Buddhist writings in the world. In China, Japan, and surrounding countries they are often considered to be very compressed versions of the Buddha's teachings that can quickly lead one to enlightenment. As such they are often chanted at funerals for the enlightenment of the departing soul. Unfortunately, since they are not in the common dialect, most people just recite them without understanding, hoping their karma will magically be improved and they will find enlightenment after death. With a little effort, research, and plenty of Kanji/Chinese character dictionaries, they can be translated into any language. Now these are in English and available to help you along your path.