Diamond Sutra and the Sutra of Hui-neng (Shambhala Classics) [Paperback]

Wong Mou-Lam (Translator), A F Price (Translator), W.Y. Evans-Wentz (Foreword), Christmas Humphreys (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 8, 2005 | Series: Shambhala Classics

The Diamond Sutra, composed in India in the fourth century CE, is one of the most treasured works of Buddhist literature and is the oldest existing printed book in the world. It is known as the Diamond Sutra because its teachings are said to be like diamonds that cut away all dualistic thought, releasing one from the attachment to objects and bringing one to the further shore of enlightenment. The format of this important sutra is presented as a conversation between the Buddha and one of his disciples. The Sutra of Hui-neng, also known as the Platform Sutra, contains the autobiography of a pivotal figure in Zen history and some of the most profound passages of Zen literature. Hui-neng (638–713) was the sixth patriarch of Zen in China, but is often regarded as the true father of the Zen tradition. He was a poor, illiterate woodcutter who is said to have attained enlightenment upon hearing a recitation of the Diamond Sutra. Together, these two scriptures present the central teaching of the Zen Buddhist tradition and are essential reading for all students of Buddhism.

 

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The "diamond sutra" helps clarify the often misunderstood Buddhist notion that reality is a projection of one's mind. Hui-Neng, a seventh-century Chinese Ch'an master, is credited with imbuing the Buddhism imported from India with a distinct Chinese identity. His sutra, the "platform sutra," led directly to Zen as we know it today.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Chinese --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (November 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590301374
• ISBN-13: 978-1590301371
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.5 x 8.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #432,134 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Nice Translation, May 23, 2003

By 

Swing King (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Diamond Sutra and the Sutra of Hui-Neng (Shambhala Dragon Editions) (Paperback)

Sutra translation into English is absolutely no easy task, yet A.F. Price does an excellent job here. The Diamond Sutra is probably the singlemost important sutra to all of Mahayana Buddhism, and particularly those schools of Zen. For those unfamiliar with this sutra, it is simply a dialogue between Subhuti, Buddha's disciple-and the Buddha himself.

The Diamond Sutra says, "All things that appear in this world are transient. If you view all appearances as nonappearance, then you will see the true Buddha.'' "All things that exist are like a dream, a phantom, a bubble, a reflection; they are like dew or lightning; thus should you view them.'' "If you are attached to color and sound and want to see your true nature, you are on the wrong path.''

This sutra demonstrates, in it's basic presentation, how the mind that discriminates this from that: I like this, I don't like that/ correct/incorrect-is forever chained to delusion. But a Buddha cuts through all opposites thinking. A Buddha sees past the evident and does some investigation. Understanding does not help us-action is understanding! Basically our ideas blind our eyes-but our eyes originally have no idea-they just look. So if we can attain a mind like that, a just looking mind, not a same/different mind-we can take true steps toward liberation.

Then we have the Sutra of Hui neng, another Buddhist classic. Hui Neng, as many of you may know-was the 6th Zen Patriarch in China. Hui Neng heard just a very few lines from the Diamond Sutra and completely understood himself with no practice at all. But he had a lot of karma. Many were trying to kill him for having received transmission from a very famous Zen Master, the Fifth Patriarch, and became the Sixth Patriarch with no training, no education. He had a lot of karma for all these people were trying to stick a knife in his back. So he had to go away in the forest for sixteen years and live with hunters and kill, living under trees with no roof over his head. Finally, after that length of time, he came out and took the Precepts and became a monk before he began teaching.

So The Sutra of Hui neng is almost like an autobiography of Hui Neng-a somewhat brief one-yet quite deep and insightful. So toss this book up, it always lands heads. Read this book often-it may seem slow at parts due to the ancient dialects-but true wisdom is on every page. Read it enough times, and your minds eye can open up! So what, [money] for this kind of crazy man's wisdom-what a bargain! Enjoy:)

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Original Translation of Hui-Neng's sutra, March 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Diamond Sutra and the Sutra of Hui-Neng (Shambhala Dragon Editions) (Paperback)

I believe this was the original English translation (completed in the 1920's or 30's) of the Sutra of Hui-Neng, the 6th patriarch of Zen Buddhism. As such, it is a fine and sensitive effort and stands as a historical landmark in Zen's introduction to the West, but the translator was not a native English speaker, if I understand it correctly. To my taste at least, a better -- and more recent -- translation is that by Thomas Cleary.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Summary of Buddhist Wisdom, May 28, 2004

By 

Dave Hovde (Madison, WI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Diamond Sutra and the Sutra of Hui-Neng (Shambhala Dragon Editions) (Paperback)

The diamond sutra is the oldest extant book in the world. It has been described as a concise summary of the entirety of Buddhist thought. The name diamond is associated with it because it cuts through all of the different dogmas, systems of thought, and attempts to reveal reality as directly as possible. The 32 chapters (1-3 pages each) can be read in a single sitting.

The sutra of Hui-Neng is also included which is a longer, more biographical work by the sixth patriarch that serves as a commentary on the Diamond Sutra. The most enjoyable part of this work is a poetry contest held by the fifth patriarch. This contest was open to any of the monks but was effectively between the star student that was well respected but did not have a proper understanding of the Dharma (teaching) and the anonymous, low-born, illiterate Hui-Neng that had no social standing or formal knowlege, but understood the Dharma. Here is the classic exchange (paraphrased from memory):

Good Student:

The body is the bodhi tree and
The mind a mirror bright
Carefully we clean it day by day
So no dust may alight

Hui-Neng:

There is no bodhi tree
Nor a mirror bright
Since all is void and empty
Where can the dust alight?

I recommend this book to anyone serious about learing about the essence of Buddhism as opposed to the rituals and systems of thought associated with it. As the sutra says: The religion given by Buddha is not Buddha religion.