The Diamond Sutra and The Sutra of Hui-neng (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. 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. Language Notes Text: English (translation) Original Language: Chinese About the Author A. F. Price is the translator of the ancient and revered Zen Buddhist scriptures The Diamond Sutra and the Sutra of Hui-neng. In her book Embracing Illusion: Truth and Fiction in the Dream of the Nine Clouds, author Francisca Cho praised Price's work for its "readability and faithfulness to Kumarajiva’s Chinese translation."