I’ve read a translation with commentary of The Diamond Sutra, by Red Pine. Here’s a link on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Sutra-DIAMOND-SUTRA/dp/1582432562
The thing I really like about this translation is it puts the sutra in context, and shows the influences of language and culture on the body of the sutra.
I am the first to admit I only imperfectly grasp this sutra.
What’s the point of this sutra for those like me who can only imperfectly grasp it? I can only tell you what I’ve gotten from it at this point.
This sutra promotes what I would call peace of mind. The many things we worry about, bankruptcy, continued income, health insurance, the worry about these things is the result of attachment.
Likewise, it promotes the middle way, not renunciation or asceticism. By the end of the sutra, you realize that you don’t need asceticism; I think many people interpret the state of not-attachment as renunciation, and that’s not it, either.
This sutra gives you increased incentive to persevere in the world.
We are all the pearl of wisdom; each one is the teacher and the student. This is the Buddha nature, which is part of everything.
I used to wonder… what if something bad happens to someone acting within the structure of Buddhism? How do you deal with bad things? I think sometimes, Buddhism is equated in a way with Stoicism… but this is not it, either.
If something unfortunate happens, you simply continue. I’m sure many of you can think of examples from life. But, as there is not emptiness, and not, not-emptiness, prudent, albeit minimal planning for food, shelter, clothing, and personal safety is expedient, since we exist in the stream of now… for…. this is very important…
a dharma is like a raft.
the dharma of prudent and minimal planning for our daily needs assists us, like the raft assists us in getting to the other shore. Beyond that, no worry.
Pay attention to this dharma raft! It will come back, later.
It’s attachment that leads to fanaticism, it’s attachment that leads to intolerance, it’s attachment that leads us to evangelize or hoard resources.
But, what do you do when confronted with someone else’s attachment? There needs to be a demarcation line somewhere, for – in my imperfect grasp I say obviously, when I really know I oughtn’t to realize anything here – not every part of all is enlightened. If it was, we would not have to deal with these attachment issues? But there is no line. Thou art that. When threatened, defend. It’s like, as “When you are hungry, eat.”
Learning comes with time. The mind assimilates knowledge, makes connections and the pieces coalesce into some kind of wisdom. Does enlightenment come in an instant? Yet, we know it must stay the course, for the example of the Buddha is enlightenment as the Buddha stands, sits, and walks; so, once there is enlightenment, thereafter it does not leave. So my imperfect grasp is not enlightenment, as it exists and then is beyond my understanding again.
Enlightenment must therefore be possible in any state; meditation, action, cultivation, defense.
Enlightenment is possible without attributes; no attributes restrict enlightenment; enlightenment is available to everyone. There is no attribute of enlightenment, and it’s this state of no attributes that’s difficult to attain.
Does enlightenment spread itself the way heat dissipates or water ripples in a pool?
IMHO, enlightenment only “works” when everything is liberated…therefore, merit is cultivated, since as it has been explained, it’s a most expeditious dharma raft…a way to liberate the beings that are no beings, being all beings! You can’t say your left hand and right hand aren’t connected.
Real enlightenment is that which is practiced daily; how the Buddha stands, walks, goes about his daily business as does not stand or walk or go about his daily business. So, it does not go away, but keeps moving; to keep us moving, we put one foot in front of the other.
It’s not stillness where no karma is created; it’s unity; the movement of the wind in the trees.
I have seen some criticism of Buddhism misunderstanding the idea that “All is Maya.” Maya, can be translated as illusion. This is the idea that there is nothing there. But that’s not it either!
This one is very simple. All you have to do is look at the wind. Is the wind not there?
Likewise, there is not heresy, for a dharma is like a raft. You use it to get the other side of the river, and you may leave it at the shore for someone else to use. If someone else’s dharma raft is different, what is it to you? A dharma is like a raft.
All is ocean; all is karma; all is dharma just as much as you are. There is a constant state of flux; the absolute, ever churning cosmos.
That’s all the thought I have regarding this sutra for now. I have dog-eared a number of pages in the copy I have, and would like to go back and read them over at some time, as well as read the whole book several times through.
This sutra comes with its own built-in moral conundrum! Do I only want to gain merit?
