The Diamond Sutra - Sutra still sparkling after all these years

"JIN Gang Jing," or the "Diamond Sutra" - in Sanskrit the "Vajracchedika Prajnaparamita Sutra" - is one of the best-known sutras among Buddhists, especially in China and other Asian countries. 

It was originally produced in ancient India around 494 BC, recording dialogues between Subhuti and Sakyamuni Buddha. Subhuti was one of the Ten Great Sravakas - disciples - of the Buddha.

The "Diamond Sutra" has long been highly regarded in countries where Mahayana Buddhism is revered. It has also exerted a great influence on China's culture and religion since first translated into Chinese.

In about 400 years, from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 317-420) to the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), China produced six translations of the sutra. Of these, the one by Kumarajiva (AD 344-413) has remained the most popular. 

The translation by Xuanzang (circa AD 602-664) has been deemed an important supplement to the Kumarajiva version.

Kumarajiva was a Kuchean Buddhist monk, scholar and translator. His father came from Indian Brahmin nobles and his mother was a Kuchean princess. He followed his mother in practicing Buddhism when only seven.

He eventually became a Mahayana adherent and spent the last 12 years of his life in Chang'an, now Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, teaching and translating sutras from Sanskrit into Chinese.

It was said that Kumarajiva and more than 800 of his students translated 384 volumes of 74 Buddhist sutras from Sanskrit into Chinese. Of these, the "Diamond Sutra" has been the most widely disseminated.

Xuanzang came from today's Henan Province, in central China. His father served as a magistrate. Influenced by his two older brothers, Xuanzang became interested in Buddhism, and after the death of his father, followed a brother into the monkhood.

In AD 629, Xuanzang left Chang'an and traveled along the Silk Road all the way to India. On his journey, he visited monasteries of all kinds of Buddhist schools in 110 states. 

Eventually, he went to study at Nalanda in Bihar, India. He spent nearly five years there, reading and discussing classic Buddhist treatises with local monks. Later, he also visited and studied in many other parts of India.

His journey inspired 16th-century novel "Xi You Ji" or "Journey to the West," one of the Four Classic Novels of Chinese literature.

Xuanzang returned to China in AD 645, needing more than 20 horses to help him carry back 657 Sanskrit texts. He received a hero's welcome when he entered Chang'an, but declined many offers of civil appointments. With support from the Emperor, Xuanzang retired to the Hongfu Monastery to concentrate on translating the texts into Chinese.

He recruited students and scholars from across the country and East Asia to help. Xuanzang himself translated 75 Buddhist works, a total of 1,335 scrolls. Of these, the "Diamond Sutra" was one of the most important.

In original title, the Sanskrit word "vojra," has two meanings: lightning and diamond. Buddhists prefer the meaning of diamond and use it to describe the sharpness, brightness and perseverance of wisdom.

The sutra emphasizes the practice of non-abiding and non-attachment, which are essential in Mahayana Buddhism and go well with ancient Chinese thinking and philosophy. 

Also, thanks to the brevity of the Chinese translations (Kumarajiva's version contains 5,176 Chinese characters and Xuanzang's 8,208 characters), it doesn't require an exceptional memory to chant and recite the sutra, further enhancing its popularity.

In early 20th century, a copy of Kumarajiva's Chinese translation of "Diamond Sutra" was discovered among manuscripts in Dunhuang, in northwestern Gansu Province, a major stop on the ancient Silk Road. 

Hailed as the earliest printed book in the world, the copy is now in the collection of the British Library.

Source: shanghaidaily.com (June 9, 2013)