A Diamond that cuts through Illusions

'A Diamond that cuts through Illusions' or in short 'Diamond Sutra. This classic 'Sutra' or 'Prayer' contains all the essence of Buddha's teachings.

Recently I ran into a Nun and this was the first time I met her. She looked at me with compassion and said "the 6th Patriarch, Ven Hui Neng attained Enlightenment just by realizing this Sutra. I am giving you a book, read it until it illuminates". She handed me a copy and I said I will try to read it daily. I have been doing so.

'Diamond Sutra' contains all the Wisdom of Buddha. In the whole Sutra, it also explained how to go about cutting through all illusions we have created to imprison our Self (if ever there is a Self).

In any Buddhist Text or Sutra, it is important to state the time, place and people who attended the sermon to prove that it had been delivered correctly. Buddha resided in Jetavana Monastery for 25 Rainy Seasons and it was here that this Wonderful Diamond was delivered. It was after lunch because the text mentioned that Buddha washed his alms bowl and legs and sat focus. It also mentioned that at that point there were 1250 monks listening to this teaching. This Diamond came about as a request for teaching from Ven Subuti and Buddha answered and explained to Ven Subuti the true meaning of Self.

Ven Subuti venerated the Buddha by bearing his right shoulder with his right knee kneeling on the ground. Ven Subuti requested for the benefits of lay people as to how to go about practicing Supreme Wisdom from the Buddha. Buddha explained that regardless whether beings are egg-born, womb-born, moist-born or spontaneously born; regardless whether such beings can be seen or is invisible, whether such beings have a mind or mindless; or mindlessly with mind or mindlessly without mind - Buddha will show them the way to Enlightenment, in actual fact after all beings attained supreme happiness, there is actually no beings, why? because if a Boddhisattva hangs on forms, than that person is not a Bodhisattva.

Diamond Sutra explained Non-Self, so hanging on form is hanging on Self. All words or names are just like a vessel - it helps one to cross the river of Samsara and discard after crossing. You will not carry a vessel on your back and walk everywhere, is that right? Therefore to grasp the true meaning, such words and descriptions and examples need to be given.

In Chapter 8, it truly stated that all the Supreme Wisdom of Buddhas arrived from realizing this Sutra. Its profoundness is immeasurable and it is like a Diamond, it cuts through anything and in this case, even stubborn illusions, something that we have embraced life after life.

The Sutra also mentioned that by reading, spreading, reciting 4 stanza or explaining the meaning of this Diamond to any beings creates boundless merits even Buddha himself cannot measure. Any physical generosity is nothing compare by giving the Truth because the Truth gives beings eternal happiness and it is the Truth.

The favorite Stanzas that I picked are the followings :

1)
过去心不可得(guo qu xin bu ke de)
All past thoughts are gone and cannot be retained

现在心不可得(xian zai xin bu ke de)
All present thoughts cannot be cling onto, it will pass

未来心不可的(wei lai xin bu ke de)
All future thoughts cannot be predicted

(No Mind can be predictable. Everything is created by the Mind. What is gone is gone, what is now will pass and what in the future has yet to come.)

2)
若以色见我(ruo yi se jian wo)
Anyone who wish to see the Buddha in form

以音声求我(yi sheng yin qiu wo)
Anyone who clings on and worship me

是人行邪道(shi ren xing xie dao)
This person is walking the wrong Path

不能见如来(bu neng jian ru lai)
He will never see the true nature of Buddha

(The Buddha has no form. All forms are but temporal. If one clings to Buddha's form and worship him than one does not understand his teaching. Thus one will never be able to understand the true nature of Buddhahood.)

3)
一切有为法(yi que you wei fa)
All the Truth about Form

如梦幻泡影(ru meng huan pao ying)
Should be treated like a dream or a bubble

如露亦如电(ru lu yi ru dian)
Should be treated like a dew drop or lighting

应作如是观(ying zuo ru shi guan)
All should be view as such

(Form is like a dream, it is not reality; it is also like a bubble, easily burst and disappeared; it is like a dew drop that when the sun comes up, it leaves no trace; it is also like lighting, flash and gone. This is the correct way to Truth.)

I do not say I have totally understand this Diamond. I will fall into wrong views if I do. All words are just words. I am putting it here to see how much I have understand and for those who are interested to know about this Diamond. We have been searching everywhere for ways and means to Enlightenment. In actual fact just from one vessel, one can see one's true nature.

Please treat Sutras with respect. Where there is a Sutra, it is a sacred place. It has the blessings of the Buddhas and Devas and all beings will come by to pay their respect, both seen and unseen. It is a blessed place and a holy shrine.

My Teacher taught me...if there is a torn page or a small corner of a torn prayer book or Sutra, I should pick it up and respectfully put it at a high place because it is the Truth taught by Buddha and should not be under the feet of anyone.

With this...May all Beings be well and happy and be free from Sufferings.