PREFACE

THIS English version of The Diamond Sutra,¹ translated from the Chinese text of KumarajivaA prolific translator-monk (344–413 CE) who was instrumental in bringing Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit into the Chinese language., owes its inception to successive conversations with a friend, profoundly interested in the interpretation of oriental systems of philosophy. During those conversations renderings into English were made of numerous passages from the works of ConfuciusThe Latinized name of Kong Fuzi, an influential Chinese philosopher whose teachings emphasized morality, social relationships, and justice., MenciusA philosopher (372–289 BCE) known as the "Second Sage" of Confucianism., and Lao-TszAlso known as Laozi, the legendary founder of Taoism and author of the Tao Te Ching..

Having surveyed briefly those fertile fields of thought, we passed, by a natural transition, into the delectable Buddhist realm. Some passages from the Chinese SutrasDerived from the Sanskrit word for "thread," a sutra refers to a scriptural narrative or religious discourse, specifically those regarded as the oral teachings of the Buddha., comprising texts and annotations, were consecutively examined, and variously considered. Eventually it was suggested that The Diamond Sutra, perhaps one of the most metaphysicalReferring to the branch of philosophy that examines the fundamental nature of reality, including the relationship between mind and matter. of the works ascribed to BuddhaSiddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher and founder of Buddhism, who lived in ancient India., be conveniently rendered into the English language.

In order that the rather unfamiliar text might assume due intelligibility, parallel passages and numerous annotations were subjoined, as the pleasant work of translating proceeded. The idea of printing and publishing the text seemed to follow as a natural sequence.

¹ A learned Chinese commentator thus explained the rather striking title :

“ As the diamond exceeds all other precious gems in brilliance and indestructibility ; so, also, does the wisdom of The Diamond Sutra transcend, and shall outlive, all other knowledge known to philosophy.”