It takes the form of a dialogue in the presence of a. Y the previous passage explained that existent dharmas are non existent. 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. The heart sutra, perhaps the most important of all buddhist texts, sets out to formulate the very heart or essence of perfect wisdom and is studied with.
Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation etc. The diamond sutra is intended as an antidote to suffering, which is achieved through wisdom. The perfection of wisdom translators preface acknowledgements chapter one chapter two. For even at that time, subhuti, there will be bodhisattvas who are gifted with good conduct, gifted, with virtuous qualities, gifted with. Watch out too for an intriguing discussion of the sutra as. To begin reading the diamond sutra just click here for the first page. Its key themes are the direct perception of ones true nature, and the unity in essence of sila conduct, dhyana. The diamond sutra in sanskrit and english translated from. In addition to the actual text of the diamond sutra this web site provides a diamond sutra background page which explains the origins of the diamond sutra and information about how this new translation was done. Jun 06, 2009 the diamond sutra is a teaching from the buddha to subhuti. The diamond sutra of 868 now lives at the british library, whose turning the pages project includes close looks online at the worlds oldest printed book.
With this in mind, i am wondering for people who are experienced with mahayana sutras who can tell me which translations will be better to start with for the diamond sutra, which translations might be a blind alley despite seeming wellwritten many exist for suttas, which ones prove to be worthy of careful attention, and so on. Jun 25, 2015 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. The diamond sutra vajracchedika prajnaparamita diamond cutting transcendent wisdom translated by paul harrison a shooting star, a clouding of the sight, a lamp, an illusion, a drop of dew, a bubble, a dream, a lightnings flash, a thunder cloudthis is the way one should see the conditioned. Diamond sutra explained by master nan huaichin part 2.
The diamond sutra and the study of wisdom and emptiness. These sutras are associated with the second turning of the dharma wheel. Vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra is a mahayana buddhist sutra from the prajnaparamita sutras or perfection of wisdom genre. Sutra unfolds at eagle peak, where countless listeners gather to hear the buddha preach important principles and teachings. And sometimes again we allow ourselves the luxury if you like of just floating back into the past, not to say drifting back into the. Diamond sutra and the sutra of huineng shambhala classics pdf. The principle of the true aspect of all phenomena, the lotus sutra.
Here are links to audio files and pdf files of many of these services. It is recorded in huinengs autobiography that when he was an adolescent selling firewood in a marketplace, he heard someone reciting the diamond sutra. It is convenient to use computer to sort out key points in the sutra. To single mindedly concentrate on the here and now without dwelling, this elegantly simple method of letting go is expertly explained within master nans commentaries. The work, which offers meditations on illusion and perception, was originally written in sanskrit and first translated into chinese in 402 a. Lama zopa rinpoche advises students to recite the dedication prayer by mipham rinpoche, available below, after reciting or reading the vajra cutter sutra. This is one of its final verses, which highlights the buddhas view on impermanence. The diamond sutra in sanskrit and english translated from the sanskrit by edward conze om namo bhagavatyai aryaprajnaparamitayai. In the diamond sutra there are many instances of the type of threestep arguments that may be represented by the scheme of so, not so, named so. Download the buddhist text the diamon sutra here as pdf ebook. Bhagavan sravastyam viharati sma jetavanenathapindadasyaarame mahata bhiksusamghena sarddham ardhatrayodasabhir. The diamond sutra played an important role in the life of huineng 6387, the sixth patriarch of chan. The diamond sutra, along with the heart sutra, are among the most popular works of the prajnaparamita group of sutras. Copying and recitation of the diamond sutra was a widespread devotional practice, and stories attributing miraculous powers to these acts are recorded in chinese, japanese, tibetan, and mongolian sources.
In indian sanskrit language, arya vajracchedika nama prajnaparamita mahayana sutra in tibetan, phags pa shes rab kyi pha rol tu phyin pa rdo rje gcod pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen poi mdo in english, the noble mahayana sutra on the wisdom gone beyond called the diamond cutter i bow to all the buddhas and bodhisattvas. New heart sutra translation by thich nhat hanh plum village. Subhuti, from this is born the unexcelled, perfect enlightenment of tathagatas, arhans, and fullyenlightened ones. With his customary dry wit and sharp eye he leads us on the crazy paving path through the diamond sutra a text guaranteed to turn your world upsidedown. At one time the buddha was sojourning in the grove of jeta together with. One day, at the time for breaking fast, the worldhonored one enrobed, and carrying his bowl made his way into the great city of shravasti to beg for his food. However, in order to realize wisdom and the nature of emptiness, we have to resort to some means of speaking about both of them. Five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds. The diamond sutra vajracchedika prajnaparamita sutra.
Jul 17, 2019 open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. The opening gatha was composed by thich nhat hanh to precede the translation. The buddha speaks of the infinite life sutra of adornment, purity, equality and enlightenment of the mahayana school. 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 is particularly prominent within the chan. The platform refers to the podium on which a buddhist teacher speaks. The vajra cutter sutra also known as diamond cutter sutra or diamond sutra is one of most wellknown sutras of mahayana buddhism. This sutra is entirely in accord with both the mahayana and theravada traditions.
May 11, 2016 smart news keeping you current five things to know about the diamond sutra, the worlds oldest dated printed book printed over 1,100 years ago, a chinese copy of the diamond sutra at the british. Opening the way for the enlightenment of all people. Indeed they are among the most popular sutras within the mahayana cannon as a whole. The chung tai translation committee comprises of dharma masters and lay disciples and convenes regularly. This statement, though, apparently, very nice, is also absurd, because there is no such thing as motion in a straight line. The diamond sutra short version the diamond sutra the assembly. The platform sutra of the sixth patriarch or simply. 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.
The bike was not suited to the speeds we were moving at. Price and wong moulam section one the convocation of the assembly. Some very funny parts to this talk and some excellent evocations of rigorous dharma practice as part of the everyday business of life. 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. Translated into a variety of languages over a broad geographic range, the diamond sutra is one of the most influential mahayana sutras. Sutra starting with letter, in word document, in pdf. However, before his departure from the heavenly realms, the bodhisattva delivers one final teaching to the gods chap. At one time the buddha was staying in the jeta grove, near the city of sravasti. At one time the buddha dwelt in the jeta grove in the garden of the benefactor of orphans and the forlorn, together with a gathering of great followers, twelve hundred fifty in all. Like many buddhist sutras, the diamond sutra begins with the famous phrase, thus have i heard.
When starting a more indepth study of the dharma from a mahayana and vajrayana perspective, what are the core 3 most recommended sutras or texts, and the reasons why they are considered import. 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. Oct 05, 2015 the diamond sutra the diamond that cuts through illusion a new translation in english by alex johnson read by chris johnys. The sutra exponded by the buddha on practice of the way through. Cheng kuan, 53rd generation acharya of the shingon sect. With him there was a community of 1,250 venerable monks and devoted disciples. The teacher is just there to help them in the process of selfdiscovery. Subhuti, what is called the religion given by buddha is not, in fact buddha religion. The diamond sutra in sanskrit and english translated from the. 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. Homage to the perfection of wisdom, the lovely, the holy. In his youth, nan received a classical education that included various confucian and daoist works, as well as traditional chinese medicine, literature, calligraphy, poetry, and other subjects. Therefore, i asked hung kwok sing in hong kong to look for a computer file of the diamond sutra from materials that were already posted on internet. Diamond sutra home page links to individual chapters of the diamond sutra this is what i heard.
Sometimes it happens that we live as it were, we dwell very much in the present. Dec 15, 2010 download free pdf ebooks download pdfs. On 11th september thay completed a profound and beautiful new english translation of the heart sutra, one of the most important sutras in mahayana buddhism this new english translation is based on the new vietnamese translation that thay began working on three weeks ago at the european institute of applied buddhism in germany below the sutra you can read thays explanation of why he made. If you would like to know more about the diamond sutra as a buddhist teaching, one of the most accessible ways to learn is through videos by an american monk named hyungak paul muenzen. Yoga sutras of patanjali swami jnaneshvara bharati page 2 of 63 04 yoga sutras of patanjali interpretive translation presented by swami jnaneshvara bharati. Nan, huaichin diamond sutra explained primordia, nj, usa 2003 quellentext. Nan huaichin was born march 18, 1918, to a scholarofficial family in yueqing county, wenzhou city, zhejiang province. This sutra appears in thich nhat hanh, chanting from the. The students have to discover things by themselves. He was also a great thinker, and meditatora master of the yoga of the mind. The lankavatara sutra introduction the lankavatara sutra sutra on the descent to lanka is an unsystematic and partial overview of the one path teaching of mahayana buddhism. Click on document diamond sutra and the sutra of huineng shambhala classics pdf.
The diamond sutra, or the perfection of wisdom which cuts like a thunderbolt, is one of the cornerstone texts of mahayana buddhism and provides a summary of the core concepts of the buddha. Opening the way for the enlightenment of all people t. The yoga sutras of patanjali succinctly outlines the art and science of yoga meditation for selfrealization. The vajra cutter sutra is a discourse on the buddhist concept of emptiness, the wisdom gone beyond. Master nan huaichins discourses on the treasured buddhist diamond sutra bring together a lifetimes personal cultivation experience that crosses into every single school of esoteric and spiritual practice. 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. As a teacher, i know that nothing can really be taught. Mahayana sutras, such as the lotus flower sutra and the flower adornment sutra, explain the way of becoming enlightened. This passage explains that nonexistent dharmas are not nonexistent. Each of the eight items discussed can be a subject of meditation, and each of these subjects can be further divided. He found one and revised its format so that my computer can make use of it.
Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Diamond sutra a new translation of the classic buddhist text. The bike was a dream, and the handlebar bag i am using now was perfect for holding the camera. Jan 27, 2005 diamond sutra explained nan huaichin, pia giammasi on. 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. Because, subhuti, from this discourse issue forth all the buddhas and the consummation of incomparable enlightenment teachings of all the buddhas. The type is called three steps involving breaking down and setting up. Upon a time buddha sojourned in anathapindikas park by shravasti with a great company of bhikshus, even twelve hundred and fifty.
The second and third statements quoted above are of this type. In indian sanskrit language, arya vajracchedika nama. This pdf file may be printed and distributed according to the terms of use estab. A general explanation of the vajra prajna paramita sutra by dhyana master hsuan hua. The buddha said this sutra may be known as the diamond that cuts through illusion. This foundation is a non profit organization based in. It is a process of systematically encountering, examining, and. Kumarajivas version of the lotus sutra as the basic text, rather than the taisho edition.
The diamond sutra is the worlds earliest dated printed book. One of the best known commentaries is the exegesis on the diamond sutra by huineng, the sixth patriarch of the chan school. Table of contents a complete buddhist sutra collection. However, next time i round the block, i will take the jake the snake and leave the sutra and camera at home. Dharma, and reveal the meaning of the great dharma. Diamond sutra, sanskrit vajraccedika sutra diamond cutter 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. It is an important buddhist text that has a long and profound history. The diamond sutra says that the buddha taught for decades, yet nothing is really taught. We will continue our discussion of diamond sutra explained by master nan huaichin.
Its purpose is to lead advanced bodhisattvas to final selfrealization, that is, to be a tathagata see below. While the introduction will deal with the evidence concerning the date of the writing, and the commentaries written upon it, the chapters following the introduction will give a translation of the work itself. It tells us that realizing the emptiness of all things is the key step on this path and that its articulation comes, paradoxically, in the boddhisattva ideal of saving all sentient beings. Nonexistence and not nonexistence is the principle and tendency of the middle way. Subhuti, what is called the religion given by buddha is. Also known by its sanskrit title vajracchedika, the diamond sutra posits that something is what it is only because of what it is not.
545 973 1189 938 991 954 1391 1544 122 1666 1319 46 1190 1404 247 498 1578 714 526 1051 812 148 863 1047 938 693 787 1368 568 1075 778 253 1107 760 752 1099 881 858 1106 858 1149 218 917