Londons Falling

An important Sutra that can be better presented

Rating: 3/5
Comments:
The Diamond Sutra is one of the most important sutras of Zen (Ch'an) Buddhism, the Fifth Patriarch, Master Hung-jen started using this sutra as the main reference for teaching and enlightenment. And its essential passage (in section five) has been the definitive enlightenment yardstick for Zen practitioners. Red Pine translated this passage as follows: "Since the possession of attributes is an illusion, Subhuti, and no possession of attributes is no illusion, by means of attributes that are no attributes the Tathagata can indeed be seen". Comparing this with the original Chinese version, this translation is weak in precision, difficult to memorize and not at all conducive to meditation, if at all easily comprehensible in the first place!

Having said that it would only be fair to say that Zen type of enlightenment cannot easily come by, without much difficult practice with or without a master (Sixth Patriarch Master Hui Neng got it just be hearing this passage once at a public inn, whereas all other disciples of Master Hung-jen failed to get it despite using the Diamond Sutra as the main reference text for their entire learning period). Actually Subhuti himself doubted whether this passage could lead to enlightenment in future, when without the benefits of a direct teaching from Sakyamuni Buddha himself (the Buddha reassured him that it could and further elaborated this main passage so that future devotees could be enlightened).

It is therefore quite impossible for an average folk (nowadays with a more rationalistic mind) to gain possible enlightenment from reading this passage, the whole sutra and the Pine's commentary (putting aside for the time being the imprecise translation as commented above). Late psychologist Carl Jung in his commentary to Suzuki's An Introduction to Zen Buddhism offered an explanation of this difficulty (and indeed futility) for western rationalistic mind to be enlightened by Zen's metaphysical statements, a consolation for any frustration, in particular for those who want to understand Zen Buddhism but without a predisposition to appreciate "sufferings" as perceived by the Buddha and without putting in an effort to eliminate it the Buddhist way. For those with such a disposition and willingness to put an effort (or having done so already, but still can't be enlightened by this sutra), I would suggest doing it the long-way (perhaps by start reading books by the Dalai Lama), rather than trying to "skip all the steps".

Five stars for the Sutra, three stars for this translation and commentary.

A polished gem

Rating: 5/5
Comments:
I expected 400 pages on a 30-page sutra to be a bit of a slog. To my surprise, Red Pine's version of the Diamond Sutra was informative and enjoyable.

What makes it so is the author's obvious engagement with the text. He notes in the preface his early confusion with the Diamond Sutra, even after living with it for three years in a Taiwanese monastery. Twenty years later, comparing six Chinese translations to compose his own English version, he still didn't get it. But a trip to Taiwan opened the door of understanding.

While waiting for a meeting about translation work for which he had been invited, Red Pine found on a book shelf a 5-volume study of the Sanskrit version of the Diamond Sutra, a project printed in a limited run of only 250 sets. Here he discovered the key needed to unlock the sutra. "The thought had never occurred to me that since the Diamond Sutra was originally in verse . . , its meaning still depended on poetry, which was still apparent in the Sanskrit but not in the Chinese."

Finally, he could he see what the sutra was all about. "It isn't emptiness that distinguishes this sutra. It's about bodies, beginning with the Buddha's body and ending with the body of every noble son or daughter who practices this teaching. Our real body is what ties all these teachings together."

This delight in discovery shines through Red Pine's writing. He notes that his intention was to create a text to "thank those who have helped me along the path by helping others understand this teaching. By itself, this sutra is not easy to fathom, much less appreciate or practice. Hence, I have translated sections from other sutras that expand on the same teaching, as well as the commentaries of several dozen monks, including my old friends, the fifty-three Zen masters, the Indian pundits Asanga and Vasubandhu, and such modern masters as Chiang Wei-nung, Tao-yuan, and Sheng-yi. I have also added remarks of my own, far more than I anticipated or would have wished. But given my interpretation, I often had no choice."

About the only thing I found lacking was an index. By the time I got to the last third of the text, I wanted on more than one occasion to go back and look up a concept, or Red Pine's comments on a concept. There is a glossary, but it is not exhaustive.

As this was my first encounter with the Diamond Sutra, I can't make comparisons with other translations or commentaries. I can, though, recommend this as an accessible introduction brimming with the insight of generations of scholars who have studied this sutra. It accomplishes that rare feat among texts, instilling the desire to inquire further, to look deeper.

Who looks for me in form
who seeks me in a voice
indulges in wasted effort
such people see me not.

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An in-depth treatment of one of the most important Buddhist sutras

Rating: 5/5
Comments:
The Diamond Sutra is one of the most influential Buddhist Sutras of all time. Hui-Neng, the Sixth Grand Master of Zen in China is said to have realized enlightenment just from hearing it read out loud.

The Diamond Sutra is one of The Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, and Red Pine provides an in-depth introduction and commentary throughout.

Red Pine also offers detailed comments for each section of this incredible text, via translations from the commentaries of some of the greatest Buddhist teachers from a variety of schools, including Hui-neng, and many other Zen masters.

If you are interested in what the Diamond Sutra is all about, there is no other single volume that packs this kind of information. It is awesome!