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The Diamond Sutra: Transforming the Way We Perceive the World
In this brilliant new translation and commentary on The Diamond Sutra --one of the sublime wisdom teachings of Mahayana Buddhism--Mu Soeng integrates this ancient wisdom teaching with current scientific and psychological thought. His clear and readable commentary traces the connections between these teachings and contemporary theories of quantum reality, explores the sutra within the framework of Buddhist meditation practices, and provides a comprehensive historical survey of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. Mu Soeng's goal throughout is to reveal the inspiration and wisdom of The Diamond Sutra to today's reader in an accessible, engaging, and modern manner.
192 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 8, 2025
Transformation And The Diamond Sutra
Most religious teachings have as a goal the transformation of self -- a move from selfishness, ignorance, and -- in many traditions -- sin towards understanding of reality, compassion for others, and a weakening of the bonds of ego. These goals are at the heart of Buddhism and of the Diamond Sutra. The Diamond Sutra is a seminal text of Mahayana Buddhism probably written about 350 A.D. The work is written in difficult, deliberately paradoxical terms. It encourages the reader to change his or her outlook by understanding the evanescent, changing, illusory character of what we take in our ordinary moments to be fixed reality. The Diamond Sutra tries to get the reader to let go of fixed concepts, of ideology, of selfishness, and to work towards a transformation to true wisdom and understanding and compassion for others. The Diamond Sutra also asks us to rethink our concept of a religious text. In the West, most people tend to see Scripture as specific teachings reflective in some sense of a Divine command. The Diamond Sutra and Buddhist teachings generally follow the Buddha's famous simile of the raft. The teachings are means to lead the reader to understanding -- or to the other side-- rather than ends or doctrines to be followed in their own right. When a person has attained enlightenment -- a rare occurrence -- the teachings of the Sutras have fulfilled their goal and have no inherent value for their own sake.
In his study, "The Diamond Sutra: Transforming the Way We See the World" Mu Soeng emphasizes the transformative intent of the Diamond Sutra. Mu Soeng is a former Zen monk and currently is the co-director of the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, Barre, Massachusetts. His book is a valuable guide to this difficult text designed, Soeng tells us, for "serious readers of Buddhist teachings."
The book is in three parts. Part I consists of a historical and thematic discussion of the Diamond Sutra to prepare the reader for a study of the text. Soeng sets the Sutra in the context of early Buddhism with its belief in the transformative power of shamanism. He explains well, in a short space, many important concepts of Mahayana Buddhism and how it differed from what its followers perceived as the monastic, scholastic Buddhism codified in the Abidahamma texts of Southern Buddhism. Soeng also discusses the concepts emptiness, skillful means, and compassion, as exemplified by the Mahayana ideal figure of the Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva takes a vow to help all beings become free from suffering before he or she passes into Nirvana.
Mu Soeng gives an analysis informed by many sources, both ancient and modern. He discusses in particular scientific developments in quantum theory and the literary philosophy of deconstruction as analogies to the teachings of the Diamond Sutra. I am skeptical of the value of these analogies and think they should be used with caution. I think these teachings, while having some relevance to the Sutra, are basically of the sort that the Buddha counseled his followers to avoid and to transform their minds instead by working towards a different, non-ideological approach to reality and to the end of the concept of self.
The second part of the book consists of a paragraph-by-paragraph presentation of the text of the Diamond Sutra together with a commentary. The commentary is basically Mu Soeng's own, informed by classical and modern texts. The third part of the book is the simple text of the Diamond Sutra, unadorned by commentary. Apparently, Mu Soeng suggests his readers approach the Sutra in a manner that follows his presentation (discussion of background, text and commentary, simple text).
I found Mu Soeng's book helpful in approaching this text. The interested reader may wish to compare the approach of this book to the approach of Red Pine in his recent translation and commentary on the Diamond Sutra. Both Pine and Soeng emphasize the transformative power of the text. Pine has less detail on the background of Buddhism and of the Mahayana School but he offers a wealth of classical Buddhist commentaries on the Diamond Sutra and integrates them well into his own thinking. His commentary draws much more on traditional Buddhist sources than does Soeng's.
Interestingly as well, Pine's pedagogical approach is almost the reverse of Mu Soeng's. After brief introductory material, Red Pine presents the unadorned text of the Diamond Sutra and then follows it with his detailed section-by-section commentary. Both Soeng's and Pine's approaches are insightful.
Mu Soeng's work will help the reader see the goal of transformation underlying the difficult and great teaching of the Diamond Sutra and to work towards its realization.
Robin Friedman
Most religious teachings have as a goal the transformation of self -- a move from selfishness, ignorance, and -- in many traditions -- sin towards understanding of reality, compassion for others, and a weakening of the bonds of ego. These goals are at the heart of Buddhism and of the Diamond Sutra. The Diamond Sutra is a seminal text of Mahayana Buddhism probably written about 350 A.D. The work is written in difficult, deliberately paradoxical terms. It encourages the reader to change his or her outlook by understanding the evanescent, changing, illusory character of what we take in our ordinary moments to be fixed reality. The Diamond Sutra tries to get the reader to let go of fixed concepts, of ideology, of selfishness, and to work towards a transformation to true wisdom and understanding and compassion for others. The Diamond Sutra also asks us to rethink our concept of a religious text. In the West, most people tend to see Scripture as specific teachings reflective in some sense of a Divine command. The Diamond Sutra and Buddhist teachings generally follow the Buddha's famous simile of the raft. The teachings are means to lead the reader to understanding -- or to the other side-- rather than ends or doctrines to be followed in their own right. When a person has attained enlightenment -- a rare occurrence -- the teachings of the Sutras have fulfilled their goal and have no inherent value for their own sake.
In his study, "The Diamond Sutra: Transforming the Way We See the World" Mu Soeng emphasizes the transformative intent of the Diamond Sutra. Mu Soeng is a former Zen monk and currently is the co-director of the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, Barre, Massachusetts. His book is a valuable guide to this difficult text designed, Soeng tells us, for "serious readers of Buddhist teachings."
The book is in three parts. Part I consists of a historical and thematic discussion of the Diamond Sutra to prepare the reader for a study of the text. Soeng sets the Sutra in the context of early Buddhism with its belief in the transformative power of shamanism. He explains well, in a short space, many important concepts of Mahayana Buddhism and how it differed from what its followers perceived as the monastic, scholastic Buddhism codified in the Abidahamma texts of Southern Buddhism. Soeng also discusses the concepts emptiness, skillful means, and compassion, as exemplified by the Mahayana ideal figure of the Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva takes a vow to help all beings become free from suffering before he or she passes into Nirvana.
Mu Soeng gives an analysis informed by many sources, both ancient and modern. He discusses in particular scientific developments in quantum theory and the literary philosophy of deconstruction as analogies to the teachings of the Diamond Sutra. I am skeptical of the value of these analogies and think they should be used with caution. I think these teachings, while having some relevance to the Sutra, are basically of the sort that the Buddha counseled his followers to avoid and to transform their minds instead by working towards a different, non-ideological approach to reality and to the end of the concept of self.
The second part of the book consists of a paragraph-by-paragraph presentation of the text of the Diamond Sutra together with a commentary. The commentary is basically Mu Soeng's own, informed by classical and modern texts. The third part of the book is the simple text of the Diamond Sutra, unadorned by commentary. Apparently, Mu Soeng suggests his readers approach the Sutra in a manner that follows his presentation (discussion of background, text and commentary, simple text).
I found Mu Soeng's book helpful in approaching this text. The interested reader may wish to compare the approach of this book to the approach of Red Pine in his recent translation and commentary on the Diamond Sutra. Both Pine and Soeng emphasize the transformative power of the text. Pine has less detail on the background of Buddhism and of the Mahayana School but he offers a wealth of classical Buddhist commentaries on the Diamond Sutra and integrates them well into his own thinking. His commentary draws much more on traditional Buddhist sources than does Soeng's.
Interestingly as well, Pine's pedagogical approach is almost the reverse of Mu Soeng's. After brief introductory material, Red Pine presents the unadorned text of the Diamond Sutra and then follows it with his detailed section-by-section commentary. Both Soeng's and Pine's approaches are insightful.
Mu Soeng's work will help the reader see the goal of transformation underlying the difficult and great teaching of the Diamond Sutra and to work towards its realization.
Robin Friedman
October 31, 2024
I started making time in the early mornings. Arising between 5:15 and 6am to devote at least one hour to spiritual learning. This book was high on my list of books to read. I find each time I delve into philosophical and spiritual teachings I learn something new and comprehend things in a different way. Grateful for this timeless knowledge that in the absolute is really no knowledge at all. 🙏
June 9, 2014
I read this for a Philosophy class at Oregon State and it was interesting. Much of it was confusing and seemed to contradict itself, but I've read that it takes time to really sink in. That being said, it's worth reading for sure.
May 16, 2012
I'm familiar with the Diamond Sutra, but this wasn't my favorite translation. It is confusing and there are lengthy descriptions that don't really help.
July 13, 2017
The most potent quality of this book is the respect afforded to the readers. The author's annotations are both succinct and useful.
February 11, 2018
Beautiful and intellectually rich.
July 22, 2022
Really appreciated the history and context for the sutra, not so wild about the long sections on quantum theory. Mystical traditions don’t need to be validated by modern science.
December 23, 2010
Re-reading :)
September 3, 2015
Diamond sutra is awesome. Modern physics is also awesome. Tying the two together is done better than you'd think: insightful without being cheesy or overwrought.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews