Diamond Sutra · Platform Sutra

Author: None
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: The brilliant gem in Buddhist scriptures, the Diamond Sutra, also known as the Sutra of the Diamond Prajna that Cuts Through Illusions, is one of the most important classics in the Mahayana Prajna category. It means using the wisdom of the Diamond Prajna to cut through (afflictions and erroneous thoughts), liberating all beings from the Three Realms and reaching the other shore of the vast sea of (birth and death). Its main theme is to propagate the Buddhist doctrine of "emptiness and illusory existence." The four lines of verse at the end of the scroll, "All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows; like dew or lightning, they should be viewed in this way," encapsulate the essence of this scripture. It is a record of the answers given by Shakyamuni Buddha and Subhuti on Buddhist doctrine, as remembered by Ananda, a disciple of the Buddha.
The Platform Sutra, the only Chinese Buddhist text revered as a "sutra," is fully titled the Sutra of the Dharma Treasure of the Sixth Patriarch. It is the record of the enlightenment of the founder of Chan Buddhism, the Sixth Patriarch Huineng, and his teachings on the Buddha Dharma. Its main theme is that the mind-nature is inherently pure, and the practice of cultivation is centered on wu-nie (non-attachment), wu-xiang (non-form), and wu-zhu (non-abiding). This reflects the fundamental purpose and teachings of Chinese Chan Buddhism.