
THEDIAMOND SUTRA
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
THE DIAMOND SUTRA
INDEX
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES.
The Diamond Sutra is a cornerstone of Mahayana Buddhism, presented as a brief conversation between the Buddha and his disciple Subhuti. In this dialogue the teacher repeatedly asks Subhuti to examine the nature of form, perception, and the illusion of self, urging a view that all phenomena are empty of inherent existence. The text unfolds through a series of paradoxical statements that dismantle attachment to concepts, suggesting that true insight shines like a diamond—indestructible and beyond ordinary thought.
This translation, based on the classic Chinese rendering, is crafted for contemporary listeners, offering clear language and helpful annotations that illuminate difficult passages. The listener is guided step by step through the sutra’s subtle arguments, with occasional cross‑references that show how the teachings connect to earlier Buddhist works. The result is an invitation to pause, reflect, and experience the calm that arises when the mind lets go of fixed views.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (175K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Ronald Grenier from page images generously made available by the Internet Archive/Cornell University Libraries
Release date
2021-02-25
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
This work comes from an anonymous or unidentified writer, which adds a little mystery before the story even begins. When no author can be confirmed, the focus shifts fully to the words and the world they create.
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