This new translation of the diamond sutra allows the reader to experience and comprehend this timeless buddhist text in a more contemporary language and style. That, of course, is putting it simply, as only buddhists can do. His holiness speaks in tibetan with an english translation available. Download the buddhist text the diamon sutra here as pdf ebook.
That is to say the diamond sutra is the expression, is an expression of the enlightened mind, it. This translation of the diamond that cuts through illusion, sometimes known simply as the diamond sutra, has been prepared by thich nhat. A general explanation of the vajra prajna paramita sutra by dhyana master hsuan. The diamond sutra sung in english audiobook by sharon. I own a number of copies of the diamond sutra but this is my favourite. Presently, many buddhists read and recite the diamond. About the diamond sutra a new translation web site unabridged v 1. It is recorded in huinengs autobiography that when he was an adolescent selling firewood in a marketplace, he heard someone reciting the. Like sutras in buddhism in general the date and place of origin of the diamond sutra remain debated. Written more than 25 centuries ago, the diamond sutra is the first text to record the buddhas own teachings, and it remains one of the most popular. The diamond sutra in sanskrit and english translated from. Bhagavan sravastyam viharati sma jetavanenathapindadasyaarame mahata bhiksusamghena sarddham ardhatrayodasabhir. Shokai kanai, was my idea of making the actual sutra more readable and understandable.
The diamond sutra, along with the heart sutra also available translated by red pine, are arguably the two most popular works of the prajnaparamita group of sutras. To begin with the sutra is, by very definition, by virtue of the fact that it is termed a sutra it is the word of the buddha, what we call buddhavachana, the word or the utterance of the buddha, the enlightened one. Like many buddhist sutras, the diamond sutra begins with the famous phrase, thus have i heard. The diamond sutra, composed in india in the fourth century ce, is one of the most treasured works of buddhist literature and is the oldest existing printed book in the world. Each of the eight items discussed can be a subject of meditation, and each of these subjects can be further divided. The sanskrit title of the diamond sutra translates as the perfection of wisdom which cuts like a thunderbolt. In this diamond sutra, also known as the vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra, buddha says, this sutra should be called the diamond perfection of wisdom sutra, because it has the capacity to cut through illusions and bring us to the shore of liberation. The diamond sutra in sanskrit and english translated from the. No part of this site or information contained herein may. Transforming the way we perceive the world by mu soeng, the diamond sutra by a. The diamond sutra in sanskrit and english translated from the sanskrit by edward conze om namo bhagavatyai aryaprajnaparamitayai.
I find that the translation by itself is sometimes difficult to read in context, and the commentaries by themselves require a lot of back and forth with the sutra, which eats up time and energy. Considered a central work by buddhists throughout the world, the diamond sutra has been the focus of much interpretation over the centuries. Diamond prajnaparamita sutra fo guang shan international. Indeed they are among the most popular sutras within the mahayana cannon as a whole. Pdf the diamond cutter download full pdf book download. Subhuti was known to best understand the true meaning of emptiness. This sutra appears in thich nhat hanh, chanting from the. The diamond sutra is the worlds earliest dated printed book. At one time, the buddha was in the city of sravasti at the jeta grove. The diamond sutra played an important role in the life of huineng 6387, the sixth patriarch of chan.
It takes the form of a dialogue in the presence of a. It is one of the most profitable practices, because the root of all sufferings, yours and others, is the ignorance holding the i as truly existent, even though it is empty of that. Like many buddhist sutras, the diamond sutra begins with the famous. The first clue about the theme, so to speak, of this sutra, is to understand it is one of the prajnaparamita perfection of wisdom sutras. To see more of the diamond sutra please go to our award winning turning the pages. The diamond sutra the diamond that cuts through illusion a new translation in english by alex johnson read by chris johnys. Diamond sutra a new translation of the classic buddhist text. Subhuti, this discourse should be known as the diamond of the perfection of transcendental. The first is a translation of selections from the diamond sutra itself, an ancient text comprised of conversations between the buddha and his close disciple subhuti. The buddha speaks of the infinite life sutra of adornment, purity, equality and enlightenment of the mahayana school. Also known by its sanskrit title vajracchedika, the diamond sutra posits that something is. The diamond sutra 1 diamond sutra the full sanskrit title of this text is the vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra the vajra prajna paramita sutra. Translated into a variety of languages over a broad geographic range, the diamond sutra is one of the most influential mahayana sutras in east asia, and it is particularly prominent within the chan or zen tradition, along with the. A general explanation of the vajra prajna paramita sutra by dhyana master hsuan hua this translation has been prepared by the buddhist text translation society of the sinoamerican buddhist association, under the auspices of gold mountain dhyana monastery, 1731 15th street, san francisco.
His holiness the dalai lamas two day teaching on the diamond cutter sutra from bodhgaya, bihar, india on january 2223, 2018. This sutra a sanskrit word that means a religious teaching or sermon, in particular that of the buddha is commonly regarded as one of the most revered texts of mahayana buddhism. Considered a central work by buddhists throughout the world, the diamond sutra has been. The date of its composition can be inferred to some extend from the chinese translations. Once the bhagavan was dwelling near shravasti at anathapindada garden in jeta forest together with the full assembly of 1250 bhikshus and a great many fearless bodhisattvas. Table of contents a complete buddhist sutra collection. It is recorded in huinengs autobiography that when he was an adolescent selling firewood in a marketplace, he heard someone reciting the diamond sutra and immediately became enlightened. The buddha said this sutra may be known as the diamond that cuts through illusion. Sacred texts series homage to the perfection of wisdom, the lovely, the holy. I studied this book on and off for 6 months and i will continue to come back to it as being definitive on the subject. The diamond sutra is one of the most historically important texts in the buddhist faith, in part because a copy of it is the oldest surviving dated printed book in the world 868 a.
This excellent second edition of the diamond prajnaparamita sutra contains both the english and chinese text as well as annotations. Suzuki as found in a manual of zen buddhism comprising the first part and selections from the second part see note 3. Diamond sutra, brief and very popular mahayana buddhist text widely used in east asia and perhaps the best known of the 18 smaller wisdom texts that together with their commentaries are known as the prajnaparamita perfection of wisdom. Transforming the way we perceive the world by mu soenq gick here for the reluctant messenger host site the diamond sutra the walled city of dunhuang shachou was an outpost on the northwestern frontier, whose. The concept of bringing open sexuality to the limelight may have been relevant when he gave these talks in his home country of. The diamond sutra is relatively short, only 6,000 words and is part of a larger canon of sutras or sacred texts in mahayana buddhism, the branch of buddhism most common in.
This sutra is entirely in accord with both the mahayana and theravada traditions. Mahayana sutras, such as the lotus flower sutra and the flower adornment sutra, explain the way of becoming enlightened. Upon a time buddha sojourned in anathapindikas park by shravasti with a great company of bhikshus, even twelve hundred and fifty. The british library is part of the international dunhuang project, a groundbreaking collaboration which aims to make more than 100,000 manuscripts, paintings and artefacts from silk road sites available on the internet. As soon as we mention the diamond sutra to people, they know we are talking about buddhism, and conversely, it is often impossible to discuss buddhism without mentioning the diamond sutra. Osho goes so far down this path of arrogant hedonism as to praise free lovesex, in a chapter that honestly feels like hes begging his female readers to sleep with him. One day before noon, the bhagavan put on his patched robe and picked up his bowl and entered the. This translation of the diamond that cuts through illusion, sometimes known simply as the diamond sutra, has been prepared by thich nhat hanh from the vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra in sanskrit, and the chinese taisho revised tripitaka, no. It is known as the diamond sutra because its teachings are said to be like diamonds that cut away all dualistic thought, releasing one from the attachment to objects and. It is a record of the sayings of gautam the buddha as recalled by his chief disciple, ananda. Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds. The diamond sutra and the study of wisdom and emptiness.
The diamond sutra three major aspects of the diamond sutra the sutra is a record of a dialogue between the buddha and one of the ten great disciples, subhuti, in front of 1,250 buddhas followers. Nevertheless, both of them are difficult to comprehend and. Printed copy of the diamond sutra the british library. The diamond sutra a general explanation of the vajra the diamond sutra, along with the heart sutra, are among the most popular works.
The main theme of the diamond sutra the diamond sutra is a famous and popular buddhist scripture. Diamond sutra by charles luk english zenchan buddhism. It is an important buddhist text that has a long and profound history. Vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra is a mahayana buddhist. This sutra appears in thich nhat hanh, chanting from the heart. The opening gatha was composed by thich nhat hanh to precede the translation. The true meaning of the diamond sutra learn religions.
The significance of the second turning is the development of the doctrine of sunyata and the ideal of the bodhisattva who brings all beings to enlightenment. It was designed to be readable, understandable, and not overly laden with flowery language or titles and terms. Once the bhagavan was dwelling near shravasti at anathapindada garden. Honoring the diamond sutra wherever this sutra is honored and revered there is a sacred site enshrining the presence of the buddha or one of the buddhas most venerable disciples. The diamond sutra is the sutra on nonattachment or the perfection of wisdom. The lotus sutra translated by burton watson including rev. Diamond sutra by charles muller, the vajra prajna paramita sutra by the buddhist text translation society, the diamond sutra. One day, after the buddha finishes his daily walk to collect alms, a senior monk steps forth to ask how he can best help humanity. The vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra has been translated from sanskrit into english variously as the diamond sutra, the diamond cutter sutra, the vajra sutra and the vajra cutter sutra. The diamond sutra download in pdf talks on vajrachchedika prajnaparamita sutra of gautama the buddha, talks given from 211277 am to 311277 am, english discourse series, 11. Homage to the perfection of wisdom, the lovely, the holy.
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