PREFACE

Already there exist in the English language renderings of The Diamond Sutra from the SanscritAlso spelled Sanskrit; the ancient primary liturgical language of Hinduism and a philosophical language of Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. by Max MüllerFriedrich Max Müller (1823–1900), a German-born philologist and one of the founders of the western academic field of Indian studies., and from the Chinese by BealSamuel Beal (1825–1889), an English orientalist and the first person to translate the life of Buddha from Chinese into English.. This new version does not seek to enter into rivalry with those erudite works; and a possible apology which might readily be offered for the publication of this modest volume is, that the scholarly productions of Müller and Beal, in their present forms, are perhaps slightly inaccessible to the general English reader.

It would appear that the peculiar charm of the Buddhist philosophy, and the remarkable purity of the Buddhist faith, are becoming more generally appreciated in Europe. Should this imperfect rendering of The Diamond Sutra, even in the faintest degree, confirm this just sense of appreciation, or prove a gentle incentive to further enquiry, then its unexpected publication may prove to be not entirely unjustified.

In recording our many obligations to those scholars whose works were frequently consulted, we also give expression to a hope that nothing of importance is omitted which ought to be gratefully acknowledged.

It may also be permissible to express admiration of the piety, and appreciation of the friendship, of those learned monks in Central China, to whom we are everlastingly indebted for even a slight initiation into those inexhaustible truths, which are alike the heritage, and the glory, of the disciples of BuddhaThe "Awakened One," specifically Siddhartha Gautama, whose teachings form the basis of Buddhism.. Amongst those we should like to specify are Chang-Ming, the chief monk (Seng-Kwanoriginal: "僧官" (sēng guān). A title for a government-appointed monastic official or supervisor of the Buddhist clergy.) of Chen-ChouA historical prefecture in Hu-Nan province, China. prefecture, Hu-NanA province in south-central China., and the aged and affectionate Chioh-Hsien.