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THE DIAMOND SUTRA
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known as The Diamond Sutra,[1] 'The Transcendent Wisdom,' by means of which we reach 'The Other Shore.' By this name you shall reverently regard it! And why? Subhuti, what the Lord Buddha declared as 'transcendent wisdom' by means of which we reach 'the other shore,' is not essentially 'transcendent wisdom' —in its essence it transcends all wisdom."

The Lord Buddha addressed Subhuti, saying:[2] "What think you? Did the Lord

  1. ↑ A Chinese annotator observes, that as the "diamond" excels all other precious gems in brilliance and indestructibility, so also the "wisdom" of this Sutra transcends and shall outlive all other knowledge known to philosophy.
  2. ↑ "Then what do you think, O Subhuti, is there anything that was preached by the Tathagata? Subhuti said: Not indeed, O Bhagavat, there is nothing that was preached by the Tathagata."—The Vagrakkhedika. Max Müller.
    It appears to be one of the distinctive features of primitive Buddhism, that its founder made provision for the utmost development of the human intellect, within the spheres of religion and philosophy. According to the text of The Diamond Sutra, the Lord Buddha evidently disclaims any suggestion on his part to formulate a "precise system of Law or doctrine" corresponding to the idea of a creed.
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