Hampton Bradshaw
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The Diamond Sutra, The Heart Sutra, The Sutra of Hui Neng
- Three Key Prajnā Pārāmitā Texts from the Zen Tradition
- By: Anonymous
- Narrated by: Ratnadhya
- Length: 5 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 141
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 117
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Story5 out of 5 stars 116
These three sutras are the most important texts for the Chan (Chinese) and Zen (Japanese) Buddhist traditions, though they are very different in character and provenance. The Diamond Sutra (Vajracheddikā Prajña Pārāmitā Sutra in Sanskrit) has the distinction of being 'the earliest complete survival of a dated (11 May 868) printed book’. It was found in the Dunhuang Caves in China in 1900. The title, Diamond Cutter, outlines its purpose, which is to cut through ignorance to attain to perfect wisdom or ultimate reality.
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5 out of 5 stars
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the concept away from concepts freedom
- By UBS on 12-05-19
- The Diamond Sutra, The Heart Sutra, The Sutra of Hui Neng
- Three Key Prajnā Pārāmitā Texts from the Zen Tradition
- By: Anonymous
- Narrated by: Ratnadhya
A great starting point for Mahayana Buddhism
Reviewed: 01-18-21
Whether your interest is scholarly or religious, these Sutras are some of the best beginners texts for understanding Mahayana and Zen Buddhism.
The Diamond Sutra itself is a powerful work that underscores the philosophical significance of the Buddhist mode of thought strongly, and with no uncertain terms. The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch is considered one of the foundational works for Zen Buddhism, and is, itself a fascinating read.
If some of the terms and Buddhist jargon within is hard to follow (and it absolutely will be for an English speaker just starting out), I'd encourage either making or researching a list of terms of terms to use as a reference so you won't become terribly lost (or starting yourself out with some Alan Watts lectures, as he introduces many difficult concepts in ways that are much more approachable for the western mode of thought).
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