The Diamond Sutra has been transmitted in China through approximately six different versions. The version we are studying here is the one translated by Master Kumārajīva. Kumārajīva is widely regarded as the top of the four great sutra translators in the history of Chinese Buddhism, In addition, he is honored with the title “Teacher of the Seven Buddhas” in Buddhist legend. It is believed that each time a Buddha was born into the world, Kumārajīva would come help translate the scriptures, ensuring the widespread dissemination of the Mahāyāna sutras. There are many legends about Master Kumārajīva; interested readers can explore further online. However, we will not delve into those details here.
The Diamond Sutra — full title: The Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra.
The term “diamond” is widely recognized as one of the hardest substances on Earth. It can destroy, or cut through other hard materials without being damaged itself. This characteristic is used as a metaphor to illustrate how the wisdom within the Diamond Sutra can shatter all afflictions and false views. Additionally, the renowned translator Master Xuan Zang, during the Tang Dynasty, translated the full title of the Diamond Sutra as The Sutra of the Cutting Diamond Prajñā Pāramitā, suggesting that the wisdom contained within the sutra is more powerful than a diamond, even capable of cutting through the diamond.
What, then, is this wisdom? It is Prajñāpāramitā, a term transliterated from Sanskrit. Since there was no direct equivalent term in Chinese that fully captured the meaning of the Sanskrit word, the translators opted to record it phonetically. In contemporary buddhist understanding, Prajñāpāramitā is generally interpreted as the wisdom that enables one to cross from the shore of samsara (the cycle of birth and death) to the shore of liberation. It is sometimes abbreviated as Prajna wisdom. This wisdom specifically refers to the understanding possessed by Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. It is not only a realization of the highest truth of the universe, but also the capacity to attain liberation from samsara. Therefore, everyone should not confuse this wisdom with worldly intelligence or cleverness.
The term “sutra” refers to the teachings spoken by the Buddha, once recorded, are known as sutras.
Therefore, the full title of the Diamond Sutra can be understood as referring to a type of wisdom that is indestructible like a diamond, thus enabling one to cross from the near shore of the cycle of birth and death to the far shore of liberation.
The Diamond Sutra we will study is divided into thirty-two Segments. Historically, the original translation by Kumārajīva did not include Segment divisions. The division into Segments was introduced by the Prince Zhao Ming of the Liang Wudi Dynasty. There has been some debate regarding this division. Some believe that the Buddha delivered the teaching in the Diamond Sutra in one breath, without the need for Segment or paragraph divisions, while others argue that dividing the text into Segments makes it easier to memorize and study. The benevolent see benevolence; the wise see wisdom. I personally believe that whether or not the text is divided into sections is not an issue for those who truly rasp the Buddhas original intent.
Now, let us proceed to the first Segment.