The Diamond Sutra

Singapore time 10.23 am 9th September 2007

The Diamond Sutra -- The Vajracchedika-Prajna-Paramita Sutra

The most important part of this sutra is the four lines stanza. It is
' All phenomena are like;
A dream, an illusion, a bubble and a shadow;
Like dew and lighting;
Thus should you meditate upon them.'
See the quotations:

1st 'Subhuti! what do you think? If someone filled the Universe with the seven treasures and gave them all as alms, would his merit be great?'
Subhuti replied: 'Very great, World Honoured One. Why? Because this merit is not the nature of merit, the Tathagata says it is great.'
'Subhuti, if on the other hand, someone received and kept even a four lines stanza of this sutra and expounded it to others, his merit would surpass that (of the giver of treasures).

2nd 'Subhuti, I now tell you truly. If a virtuous man or woman filled a number of universes, as great as the number of sand-grains in all these rivers, with the seven treasures, and gave them all away in alms, would his or her merit be great?'
Subhuti replied: 'Very great, World Honored One!'
The Buddha said to Subhuti:'If a virtuous man or woman receives and holds (in mind) even a four lines stanza of this sutra and expounds it to others, his or her merit will surpass that of the almsgiver. Further, Subhuti, where-so-ever this sutra or even one of its four lines stanzas is expounded, you should know that all devas, men and asuras should make their offerings there as if the place was a Buddha stupa or a Buddha temple.

3rd 'Subhuti, if on the one hand, a virtuous man or woman, in giving alms, sacrifices as many lives as there are sand-grains in the Ganges, and on the other hand, someone receives and holds (in mind) even a four lines stanza of this sutra, and expounds it to others, the merit resulting from the latter will be greater.'

4th 'Subhuti, if (on the one hand) a man, in his practice of charity gives away the seven treasures piled up in a heap as great as all the Mount Sumeru in the universe put together, and (on the other hand) another man receives, holds (in mind), reads and recites even a four lines stanza of this Prajna-paramita Sutra, and expounds it to others, the merit resulting from the former's dana will not be worth one-hundredth, one-thousandth, one-ten-thousandth and one-hundred-thousandth part of that obtained by the latter, as no conceivable comparison can be made between the two.

5th 'Subhuti, if on the one hand, someone gave away in alms the seven treasures in quantities sufficient to fill all the worlds in uncountable aeons, and if on the other hand, a virtuous man, or woman developed the Bodhi-mind, and received, held (in mind), read and recited even a four lines stanza of this sutra and expounded it to others, the latter's merit would surpass that of the former.
In what manner should it be taught to others? By teaching it without attachment to form with the immutability of the absolute. (The translation of the last sentence might not give a clear picture of the Chinese words. 'Pu tung' means no action or expounding the doctrine of inaction.)
This sutra also said about the man.

In the last 500 years, before the final passing of the Tathagata, there will be those who will observe the rules of morality and perform good actions which will result in blessing. These people will be able to develop a faith in these sentences (which they will consider as) embodying the Truth. You should know that they will not have planted good roots in just one, two, three, four, or five Buddha lands. They will have planted them in countless thousands and tens of thousands of Buddha lands. Upon hearing these sentences, there will arise in them a single thought of pure faith.

(2nd) How much more so if someone is able to receive, hold (in mind), read and recite the whole sutra! Subhuti, you should know that such a person will achieve the highest and rarest Dharma.

(3rd) World Honored One, if someone after listening to this sutra believes that his mind is clean and pure, he will realize reality. We should know that such a person will achieve the highest and rarest merit.

(4th) but in the last epoch, the last five hundred years period if there be a man who (happens to) listen to this sutra, believes, understands, receives and holds it, he will be most rare.

(5th) 'Just so! Subhuti, just so! If on the one hand, there be a man who listens to this sutra and is not filled with alarm, fear, or dread, you should know that such a person is most rare.

(6th) 'Subhuti, in future ages, if a virtuous man or woman is able to receive, hold (in mind), read and recite this sutra, the Tathagata, by means of His Buddha Wisdom, will know and see clearly that such a person will achieve immeasurable and un-limitable merits.

(7th) and if (on the other hand) a person after listening to this sutra believes in his own mind without (further) contradiction, the latter's merit will surpass that of the former. How much more so if this sutra is written, received, held, read, recited and expounded to others!

(8th) 'Furthermore, Subhuti, if a virtuous man or woman receives, holds (in mind), reads and recites this sutra and is despised by others, this person who is bound to suffer from evil destinies in retribution for his past sins, and whose karmic sins are now eradicated by the others' contempt, will attain Supreme Enlightenment (Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi). (I will not attain supreme enlightenment by meditation but by other people's contempt.)

(9th) Now if in the last period in the Buddha kalpa someone is able to receive, hold (in mind), read and recite this sutra, his merits will far exceed mine which resulted from my offerings made to Buddhas, for mine cannot be reckoned as one hundredth, one thousandth, one ten thousandth or one hundred thousandth part thereof; in fact no computation or comparison is possible. Subhuti, in the last period of the Buddha kalpa, if a virtuous man or woman is able to receive, hold (in mind), read and recite this sutra, my full statement of this person's merits will create derangement, doubt and disbelief in the minds of all listeners. (If this is talking about me, my spiritual power will be greater than Gautama Buddha.)

(10th) and (on the other hand) another man comprehended that all dharmas were ego-less and thereby achieved perfection of patience (ksanti), the latter's merit would surpass that of the former.

The last 500 years or last epoch is the present time before the end.
It is quite difficult to explain the sutra paragraph by paragraph. By summarizing it I quote a sentence from the sutra: Their minds should abide nowhere. (When meditating, we have to think of nothing good or bad.)
Most meditation methods teach their own particular style. Some ask you to count your breathing, some ask you to chant a mantra, some ask you to concentrate on the vital points, some ask you to see an image, close your eyes and picture the image in your minds. All these rely on sound, images, smell, touch etc. When we make use of our mind to do all these things, we will not get 100% spirituality. When our mind is in inaction, a total emptiness, 0 digit, then 100% spirituality can develop.
We have to be in inaction also, when not meditating. For example, when people argue about the flag moving, either the wind or the flag moves, your answer to them is that their minds move, not the wind or the flag. We will become emotionless regardless of happiness or sadness around us.

If I am the stated One, then I am Maitreya Buddha !