"Diamond Sutra" in the context of ancient Indian literature

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

The word "sutra" in Sanskrit literally means "thread". Such a work may be an aphorism, a rule, a formula, or a compendium that comes together through a particular thought or theme. In a broad sense, a text in Buddhism or Hinduism is called a sutra.

A well-known definition of a sutra from Indian literature describes it as a capacious, integral, exhaustive and meaningful work with a clearly expressed thought, the understanding of which leads to perfect knowledge.

For centuries, the sutras were transmitted only orally, from teacher to student, and only after a long time were written on palm leaves, and subsequently published in books. The sutras known to us refer mainly to the scientific and philosophical treatises of Hinduism, such as, for example, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, the fundamental text of classical yoga, several decades agobecome popular in the Western world. A large number of such texts are canonical to Buddhism. It is traditionally believed that these are the words of the founder of this religion or his closest students. Due to the lack of unity between the numerous schools of this teaching, not all the sutras of the Buddha are unanimously recognized as original works that convey the words of the Enlightened One himself.

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Vajracchchedika Prajnaparamita, which plays an important role in such a well-known direction of Buddhism as Mahayana, deserves special attention. Known as the Diamond Sutra, it is also considered the world's first printed book. This woodcut monument was created by the Chinese master Wang Chi and is an ancient scroll dating back to 868.

The Diamond Sutra

The Vajracchchedika Prajnaparamita is believed to have been composed in the first century AD. It found widespread early enough in Asian countries where Mahayana Buddhism was practiced. It is included in other Prajnaparamita Sutras. Its full name can be translated as "Perfect Wisdom, capable of splitting even a diamond" or "Diamond-Cutting Perfection of Wisdom."

The relatively long sutra is divided into 32 chapters and takes approximately 45 minutes to recite. The Diamond Sutra is a dialogue based on the questions of an experienced student named Subhuti and the answers of the Buddha himself. It is noteworthy that this conversation mentionsthe beneficial impact of the work and its perception by future generations.

Contents

Like many canonical texts of Buddhism, the "Diamond Sutra" begins with the words: "Thus I heard." The Enlightened One, having completed his daily almsround with the monks, is resting in the Jeta Grove, while Elder Subhuti appears and asks him a question. Thus begins a dialogue on the nature of perception, where the Buddha is mainly trying to help the questioner to free himself from prejudices and limited ideas about the essence of insight. Emphasizing that forms, thoughts, and concepts are ultimately illusory, he teaches that true awakening cannot be achieved through theoretical constructions, and therefore must be eventually discarded. Throughout the sermon, the Buddha repeats that even the assimilation of one quatrain from this teaching is an unsurpassed merit and can lead to enlightenment.