Diamond Sutra Summary
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The essential message of the Diamond Sutra is stated in the first five stanzas. The message is here stated in simple English.

Mastering the Mind

If you want to achieve peace of mind you must

  • be committed to having all things achieve peace of mind. Note, however, that this has to be done without thinking that anything has achieved peace of mind.
  • be totally generous without ever thinking, "I am being generous".
  • appreciate that the signs and characteristics by which you know things are not the things themselves.

 

 
The first two requirements involve what is called actionless-action. This involves doing things spontaneously and without thinking, "I am doing x."
For this to happen you have to get rid of the 'I' idea. This is the most difficult concept in Buddhism - the idea that 'you' do not exist as an individuated thing in your own right.

 

 
In order to know that 'you' do not exist it is necessary to think about thinking. There are techniques for doing this and, having mastered them, the three requirements will follow automatically

Translations used:

  • in Edward Conze (1959) Buddhist Scriptures; Penguin (pp164-168 - parts)
  • Thich Nhat Hanh (1992) The Diamond that cuts through Illusions; Parallax Press
  • A F Price (1947) The Diamond Sutra; in The Diamond Sutra and the Sutra of Hui-Neng; Shambala Dragon Editions (1990)

Click here for Conze's "Buddhist Scriptures"

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