The Diamond Sutra

Discuss and learn about the traditional Mahayana scriptures, without assuming that any one school ‘owns’ the only correct interpretation.
thornbush
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Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

The Diamond Sutra

Post by thornbush »

Also known as the 'Vajracheddika Prajna Paramita Sutra' (Diamond Cutter Perfection Of Wisdom Sutra)
Image
Sutra:
http://www.drba.org/dharma/vajrasutra.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/sbe49/sbe4929.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.mandala.hr/mandala.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://community.palouse.net/lotus/diamondsutra.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://reluctant-messenger.com/diamond_sutra.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.fodian.net/English/Dcutter.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Clubs/buddhi" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... mond1.html
http://web.mit.edu/stclair/www/diamond.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.uwest.edu/sanskritcanon/dp/i" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... f3824bd5c2 (Sanskrit)

Commentary:
http://www.blia.org/english/publication" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... ges/11.htm
http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/prajparagen2.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.heartchan.org/blogs/2007/10/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... ant-to-us/
http://books.google.com.my/books?id=HSM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... 10#PPR7,M1
http://books.google.com.my/books?id=yhX" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... t&resnum=6
http://www.acmuller.net/articles/ogahae-oxford.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.urbandharma.org/udnl3/nl072704.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.dmes.org/contact/dmes/asset/1755/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Buddhist Door Sutra Commentary:
http://www.buddhistdoor.com/OldWeb/bdoo ... ond_01.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.buddhistdoor.com/OldWeb/bdoo ... ond_02.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.buddhistdoor.com/OldWeb/bdoo ... ond_03.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.buddhistdoor.com/OldWeb/bdoo ... ond_04.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.buddhistdoor.com/OldWeb/bdoo ... ond_05.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.buddhistdoor.com/OldWeb/bdoo ... ond_06.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.buddhistdoor.com/OldWeb/bdoo ... ond_07.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.buddhistdoor.com/OldWeb/bdoo ... ond_08.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.buddhistdoor.com/OldWeb/bdoo ... ond_09.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.buddhistdoor.com/OldWeb/bdoo ... ond_10.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.buddhistdoor.com/OldWeb/bdoo ... ond_11.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.buddhistdoor.com/OldWeb/bdoo ... ond_12.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.buddhistdoor.com/OldWeb/bdoo ... ond_13.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.buddhistdoor.com/OldWeb/bdoo ... ond_14.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Video Lecture:
(1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_f9864bdbM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb2Z0pNdViw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU6v-CBmDm8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(4) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W92EN9r5R3Y" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxqxq6fiFBY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Sung Part Diamond Sutra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbfR4qrr4N8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Namo Amitabha Buddha!
thornbush
Posts: 609
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by thornbush »

Found this site with the full Sutra sung by Kumuda (Sharon Janis): THE DIAMOND CUTTER SUTRA: SUNG IN ENGLISH
sraddha
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Joined: Sun May 24, 2009 11:54 pm

Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by sraddha »

Nagarjuna found this sutra hidden in the dragon's layer. :smile:
Ngawang Drolma
Founding Member
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Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by Ngawang Drolma »

It's the oldest printed text in the world :smile:
sraddha
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Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by sraddha »

Here are some profound quotes on the kind of mind to be developed:

Here's another translation in addition to the ones by thornbush:
http://www.diamond-sutra.com/diamond_su ... age10.html


"A disciple should develop a mind which is in no way dependent upon sights, sounds, smells, tastes, sensory sensations or any mental conceptions. A disciple should develop a mind which does not rely on anything."

"Therefore, Subhuti, the minds of all disciples should be purified of all thoughts that relate to seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, touching, and discriminating. They should use their minds spontaneously and naturally, without being constrained by preconceived notions arising from the senses."
Dazzle
Posts: 129
Joined: Fri Apr 10, 2009 7:04 pm
Contact:

Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by Dazzle »

.

I have Thich Nhat Hahn's commentaries on the Diamond Sutra in "The Diamond That Cuts Through Illusion "

Unfortunately I haven't had time to read the book yet, its sitting on my shelf together with 3 or 4 other unread

items.

Perhaps I'll be able to share some of it here when I do get round to reading it. :)


Dazzle :anjali:
http://www.buddhismwithoutboundaries.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
zerwe
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Location: North Carolina

Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by zerwe »

Just finished a recitation of this and my first exposure, and I would have to say, my mind is smokin'!
Shaun :namaste:
Jnana
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Joined: Tue Nov 16, 2010 12:58 pm

Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by Jnana »

There is also an English translation of the Gilgit manuscript of the Vajracchedikā Sūtra in Studies in the Literature of the Great Vehicle: Three Mahāyāna Buddhist Texts.

And another English translation of the Tibetan text of the Vajracchedikā Sūtra by Ven. Thubten Tsultrim titled The Vajra Cutter Sūtra.

All the best,

Geoff
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Huifeng
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Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by Huifeng »

Yeshe D. wrote:There is also an English translation of the Gilgit manuscript of the Vajracchedikā Sūtra in Studies in the Literature of the Great Vehicle: Three Mahāyāna Buddhist Texts.
And more recently, Paul Harrison has made a full translation from the Gilgit text(s) as edited by himself and Watanabe.
Jnana
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Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by Jnana »

Huifeng wrote:And more recently, Paul Harrison has made a full translation from the Gilgit text(s) as edited by himself and Watanabe.
Harrison, Paul. 'Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā: A New English Translation of the Sanskrit Text Based on Two Manuscripts from Greater Gandhāra', contained in Jens Braarvig, Paul Harrison, Jens-Uwe Hartmann, Kazunobu Matsuda & Lore Sander, eds., Buddhist Manuscripts in the Schøyen Collection, Hermes (Oslo 2006).
muni
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Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by muni »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_iaGEVS ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Opportunity to listen, mind-ear-explanation without mind running in the singing and other. :tongue:
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Dexing
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Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by Dexing »

Ngawang Drolma wrote:It's the oldest printed text in the world :smile:
The oldest dated printed book in the world, that is. ;)

:namaste:
nopalabhyate...
lukejmo
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 7:15 am

Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by lukejmo »

What would you say is the best English translation? In particular, which would you recommend for reciting?

And, also, does anyone know where/how I could get the Chinese version in print in the US? I know you can get it online, but I prefer the "real" thing.
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PadmaVonSamba
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Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by PadmaVonSamba »

diamond sutra in chinese:
http://www.jingangjing.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://taosculture.org/bookstore/11.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
EMPTIFUL.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
lukejmo
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Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by lukejmo »

PadmaVon - what you just did for me, I spent hours trying to do. Thank you!!! :cheers:
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PadmaVonSamba
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Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by PadmaVonSamba »

I put "diamond sutra" into the Google translator, got the chinese characters and did a search with those. :jumping:
EMPTIFUL.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
lukejmo
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 7:15 am

Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by lukejmo »

Ha! Oy... well, to be fair, last time I tried to find anything was a year ago, and nothing really useful came up. :shrug: Thanks anyway!
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PadmaVonSamba
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Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by PadmaVonSamba »

I find it puzzling that in the Diamond Sutra (I am using the Shambhala edition translated by A.F Price & Wong Mou-lam), at the end, The Buddha refers to the merit gained from reciting "...even only four lines of this discourse". This is followed by a four line stanza, but is this what he is referring to specifically?

Also, as there are numerous references to 'offering up countless jewels' (and other precious things) 'numerous as the sands of the Ganges' and so forth, this reminds me very much of the mandala offerings associated with Mahayana traditions, and I wonder if there is something implied here.
EMPTIFUL.
An inward outlook produces outward insight.
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Rinchen Dorje
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Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by Rinchen Dorje »

When studying any Sutra I find it very helpful to study at least 3 different translations with commentaries. Really does give one a broader perspective, and from there you can choose which one you would like to chant in English. I like these three:
The Diamond Sutra by Red Pine
Describing the Indescribable by Hsing Yun
The Diamond Sutra translation and commentary by Master Hsuan Hua/BTTS
"But if you know how to observe yourself, you will discover your real nature, the primordial state, the state of Guruyoga, and then all will become clear because you will have discovered everything"-Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche
plwk
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Re: The Diamond Sutra

Post by plwk »

phpBB [video]


Original here
(Embedding of video has a glitch where it skips a few minutes, please reset back play bar to zero minutes to start)
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