The Diamond Sutra and the Sutra of Hui NengThe Diamond Sutra, composed in India in the fourth century CE, is one of the most treasured works of Buddhist literature and the oldest extant printed book in the world. It is known as the Diamond Sutra because its teaching is said to be like a diamond that cuts away all dualistic thought, releasing one from attachment to objects and bringing one to the further shore of enlightenment. The Sutra of Hui-neng, also known as the Platform Sutra, contains the autobiography of this pivotal figure in Zen history and some of the most profound passages in Zen literature. Hui-neng (638-713), the Sixth Patriarch of Zen in China, is often regarded as the true father of the Zen tradition. A poor illiterate woodcutter, he was said to have attained enlightenment upon hearing a recitation of The Diamond Sutra. Taken together, these two scriptures present the central teachings of a major Buddhist tradition and are essential reading for all students of Buddhism. |
Contents
The Convocation of the Assembly | 17 |
Subhūti Makes a Request | 18 |
The Real Teaching of the Great Way | 19 |
Copyright | |
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abide Amitabha Arya asked the patriarch assembly attachment attain buddhahood Bhikshu bodhi bodhisattva buddha-knowledge buddha-nature buddhahood Buddhist called Ch'an cherishes the idea Chih-ch'eng Chih-huang Chögyam Trungpa consummation of incomparable declares defilements delusion dharma dharmakaya Dhyana Dhyana Master Dhyana school disciples discourse doctrine ego entity essence of mind eternal evil existence Fa-ta grasp hearing heretics Holiness Hui-neng ignorance incomparable enlightenment kalpa klesha Learned Audience liberation Mahāyāna meaning meditation merit monastery monks Nāgārjuna nature nirvana nonattachment obeisance ourselves path phenomenal physical body practice prajñā preached Prefect Wei pure land purity realize the essence receive and retain replied the patriarch robe samādhi sense objects sentient separated individuality Shao-chou Shen-hsiu Shen-hui sixth patriarch stanza Subhūti Sudden school sutra take refuge Tathāgata tathatā teacher Thereupon things thought tion transcendental wisdom translation transmitted truth understand vehicle vijñānas void W. Y. Evans-Wentz Wherefore Wong Mou-lam World-Honored