Paperback. White title on the purple cover.

We provide an in-depth photographic presentation of this item to stimulate your feeling and touch. More traditional book descriptions are immediately available

• Note: This book carries a £5.00 discount to those that subscribe to the F.B.A. mailing list 

A lovely book, please view the photographs.

The Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra, also known as the Diamond Sutra, is a central Mahayana Buddhist text exploring the nature of reality and the path to enlightenment. Dhyana Master Hsuan Hua’s “A General Explanation,” published in 1974 by the Sino-American Buddhist Association, offers a commentary on this sutra, focusing on its teachings on wisdom, emptiness, and the Bodhisattva path.

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

Key Concepts in the Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra:

• Prajna Paramita:
  This Sanskrit term translates to “perfection of wisdom” or “wisdom gone beyond.” It signifies a profound understanding of reality that transcends ordinary dualistic thinking.

• Emptiness (Sunyata):
  The sutra emphasizes that all phenomena, including ourselves and everything we perceive, are ultimately empty of inherent, independent existence.

• Bodhisattva Path:
  The sutra describes the path of the Bodhisattva, an individual dedicated to achieving enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, emphasizing compassion and wisdom.

• Cutting Through Delusion:
  The sutra is often called the “diamond teaching that cuts through all delusion” because it aims to dispel ignorance and attachment through the power of wisdom.

Master Hsuan Hua’s Commentary:

• The commentary by Dhyana Master Hsuan Hua provides a detailed explanation of the sutra’s verses, making its profound teachings accessible to a wider audience.

• It emphasizes the importance of cultivating wisdom and compassion as integral to the Buddhist path.

• The commentary likely explores the sutra’s teachings on the nature of reality, the Bodhisattva ideal, and the methods for overcoming attachment and delusion.

• The commentary is also likely to highlight the sutra’s practical applications for daily life, encouraging practitioners to apply its wisdom in their thoughts, words, and actions.

Significance:

• The Vajra Sutra is considered a foundational text in Mahayana Buddhism, particularly within Zen and Chan traditions.

• Master Hsuan Hua’s commentary is a valuable resource for those seeking to understand and practice the teachings of the Diamond Sutra.

• The sutra’s emphasis on emptiness and the Bodhisattva path has had a profound influence on Buddhist thought and practice.