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The Buddhist scriptures are as vast as the great ocean and as brilliant as a sky full of stars. Yet for modern readers, it can feel difficult to know where to begin - and few have the time to study them all.
In truth, among the many Buddhist texts, there are two that stand above the rest, each word precious and profound. Reading these two is equivalent to absorbing the very essence of Buddhism. Moreover, both are concise and refined - perfectly suited for modern people to read, recite, and reflect upon in daily life to cultivate inner peace and virtue.
These two scriptures are The Diamond Sutra and The Heart Sutra. Of these, The Heart Sutra is particularly short - just two pages long - and thus cannot form a standalone book. Therefore, Bamboo & Pine Press has included it as an appendix, for readers' convenience and easy reference.
The Diamond Sutra is also relatively short. Bamboo & Pine Press has previously published it as part of The Ten Great Buddhist Sutras, but it is somewhat inconvenient to flip through such a thick volume daily just to read The Diamond Sutra. Hence, this time, Bamboo & Pine Press is publishing it separately, making it easier for Buddhist practitioners and enthusiasts to carry, read, and recite at any time.
If this publication brings even a little convenience or benefit to students of Buddhism, then our purpose has been fulfilled.
May your reading bring you joy and fill you with the bliss of Dharma.
Supplementary Note on the English Edition:
After the Simplified Chinese edition of the Diamond Sutra was published in 2022, it was very well received by the public. Therefore, we have now made the heartfelt decision to publish an English edition, and we hope everyone will enjoy it.
Über den Autor / die Autorin
The Buddha (c. 5th to 4th century BC) was a philosopher, mendicant, meditator, spiritual teacher, and religious leader who lived in Ancient India. He is revered as the founder of the world religion of Buddhism. He taught for around 45 years and built a large following, both monastic and lay.
The Buddha was born into an aristocratic family but eventually renounced lay life. According to Buddhist tradition, after several years of mendicancy, meditation, and asceticism, he awakened to understand the mechanism which keeps people trapped in the cycle of rebirth. The Buddha then traveled throughout the Ganges plain teaching and building a religious community. He taught a spiritual path that included ethical training and meditative practices.
