Buddhist Scripture: Commentary on the Four Verses of the Diamond Sutra

Diamond Sutra is one of the most well-known Buddhist scriptures. Unlike other Buddhist big volumes, it is quite short. Yet, the message in it is insightful and enlightening - it guides not only your spiritual path but also your daily life. The wisdom in it is universal, meaning it's useful for Buddhists and Non-Buddhists alike.

If you have never read the Diamond Sutra, you should consider giving it a try. If the entire sutra is too much in the beginning, at least you can start with the four verses. They are the essence of the Diamond Sutra, and are well-known for their poetic wording in the Chinese version. Since they are composed of four lines (in Chinese), they are known as "four verses" or "four lines of verse" of the Diamond Sutra.

The four verses revealed great deal of the truth. This means that they can be difficult to read, as what they intend to convey is way beyond our human knowledge and experience. It is however a very powerful and practical reminder for us, that our human experience has been so disconnected from the deeper meaning of our existence that we barely look at ourselves, the world, and the universe from a non-materialistic perspective.

There are four Four Verses in the Diamond Sutra (the translations here are adapted from Price & Mou-Lam):

1. Wherever are material characteristics there is delusion; but who perceives that all characteristics are in fact no-characteristics, perceives the Tathagata.