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Diamond
Sutra
Diamond sutra is a short Mahayana sutra of the
Perfection of Wisdom (prajna-paramita) genre. The diamond sutra teaches
the practice staying in the middle path and avoidance of abiding in
extremes of mental attachment. Mind always moves to the extreme of any
thing. Abiding in the middle means living in this present moment and the
self is revealed in the practice of middle.
Accurate translation of the Diamond Sutra in Sanskrit
will be Vajra Cutter Sutra. Vajra is the word in Sanskrit for diamond.
Diamond sutra is a conversation between Buddha and His disciple Subhuti
and happened in the city of Shravasti.
Diamond Sutra - SECTION I. - THE CONVOCATION
OF THE ASSEMBLY
Thus have I heard. Upon a time Buddha sojourned in
Anathapindika's Park by Shravasti with a great company of
bhikshus, even twelve hundred and fifty.
One day, at the time for breaking fast, the World-honored
One enrobed, and carrying His bowl made His way into the
great city of Shravasti to beg for His food.
In the midst of the city He begged from door to door
according to rule. This done, He returned to His retreat and
took His meal. When He had finished He put away His robe
and begging bowl, washed His feet, arranged His seat, and sat
down.
SECTION II. - SUBHUTI MAKES A REQUEST
Now in the midst of the assembly was the Venerable
Subhuti. Forthwith he arose, uncovered his right shoulder,
knelt upon his right knee, and, respectfully raising his hands
with palms joined, addressed Buddha thus: World-honored
One, if good men and good women seek the Consummation of
Incomparable Enlightenment, by what criteria should they
abide and how should they control their thoughts? Buddha
said: Very good, Subhuti! Just as you say, the Tathagata is
ever-mindful of all the Bodhisattvas, protecting and instructing
them well.
Now listen and take my words to heart: I will
declare to you by what criteria good men and good women
seeking the Consummation of Incomparable Enlightenment
should abide, and how they should control their thoughts.
Said Subhuti: Pray, do, World-honored One. With joyful
anticipation we long to hear.
SECTION III. - THE REAL TEACHING OF THE GREAT WAY
Buddha said: Subhuti, all the Bodhisattva-Heroes should
discipline their thoughts as follows:
All living creatures of whatever class, born from eggs, from
wombs, from moisture, or by transformation whether with
form or without form, whether in a state of thinking or exempt
from thought-necessity, or wholly beyond all thought realms
all these are caused by Me to attain Unbounded Liberation
Nirvana. Yet when vast, uncountable, immeasurable numbers
of beings have thus been liberated, verily no being has been
liberated. Why is this, Subhuti? It is because no Bodhisattva
who is a real Bodhisattva cherishes the idea of an ego-entity, a
personality, a being, or a separated individuality.
SECTION IV- EVEN THE MOST BENEFICENT PRACTICES ARE RELATIVE
Furthermore, Subhuti, in the practice of charity a
Bodhisattva should be detached.
That is to say, he should practice charity without regard to
appearances; without regard to sound, odor, touch, flavor or
any quality. Subhuti, thus should the Bodhisattva practice
charity without attachment. Wherefore? In such a case his
merit is incalculable.
Subhuti, what do you think? Can you measure all the space
extending eastward?
No, World-honored One, I cannot.
Then can you, Subhuti, measure all the space extending
southward, westward, northward, or in any other direction,
including nadir and zenith?
No, World-honored One, I cannot.
Well, Subhuti, equally incalculable is the merit of the
Bodhisattva who practices charity without any attachment to
appearances. Subhuti, Bodhisattvas should persevere onepointedly
in this instruction.
SECTION V - UNDERSTANDING THE ULTIMATE PRINCIPLE OF REALITY
Subhuti, what do you think? Is the Tathagata to be
recognized by some material characteristic? No, Worldhonored
One; the Tathagata cannot be recognized by any
material characteristic. Wherefore? Because the Tathagata
has said that material characteristics are not, in fact, material
characteristics.
Buddha said: Subhuti, wheresoever are material
characteristics there is delusion; but who so perceives that all
characteristics are in fact no-characteristics, perceives the
Tathagata.
SECTION VI - RARE IS TRUE FAITH
Subhuti said to Buddha: World-honored One, will there
always be men who will truly believe after coming to hear
these teachings?
Buddha answered: Subhuti, do not utter such
words! At the end of the last fivehundred-year period
following the passing of the Tathagata, there will be selfcontrolled
men, rooted in merit, coming to hear these
teachings, who will be inspired with belief. But you should
realize that such men have not strengthened their root of merit
under just one Buddha, or two Buddhas, or three, or four, or
five Buddhas, but under countless Buddhas; and their merit is
of every kind. Such men, coming to hear these teachings, will
have an immediate uprising of pure faith, Subhuti; and the
Tathagata will recognize them. Yes, He will clearly perceive
all these of pure heart, and the magnitude of their moral
excellences. Wherefore? It is because such men will not fall
back to cherishing the idea of an ego-entity, a personality, a
being, or a separated individuality.
They will neither fall back
to cherishing the idea of things as having intrinsic qualities, nor
even of things as devoid of intrinsic qualities.
Wherefore? Because if such men allowed their minds to
grasp and hold on to anything they would be cherishing the
idea of an ego-entity, a personality, a being, or a separated
individuality; and if they grasped and held on to the notion of
things as having intrinsic qualities they would be cherishing the
idea of an ego-entity, a personality, a being, or a separated
individuality.
Likewise, if they grasped and held on to the
notion of things as devoid of intrinsic qualities they would be
cherishing the idea of an ego-entity, a personality, a being, or a
separated individuality. So you should not be attached to
things as being possessed of, or devoid of, intrinsic qualities.
This is the reason why the Tathagata always teaches this
saying: My teaching of the Good Law is to be likened unto a
raft. [Does a man who has safely crossed a flood upon a raft
continue his journey carrying that raft upon his head?] The
Buddha-teaching must be relinquished; how much more so
mis-teaching!
SECTION VII - GREAT ONES, PERFECT BEYOND LEARNING, UTTER NO WORDS OF
TEACHING
Subhuti, what do you think? Has the Tathagata attained the
Consummation of Incomparable Enlightenment? Has the
Tathagata a teaching to enunciate? Subhuti answered: As I
understand Buddha's meaning there is no formulation of truth
called Consummation of Incomparable Enlightenment.
Moreover, the Tathagata has no formulated teaching to
enunciate. Wherefore? Because the Tathagata has said that
truth is uncontainable and inexpressible. It neither is nor is it
not.Thus it is that this unformulated Principle is the foundation
of the different systems of all the sages.
Diamond Sutra -
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