Gems from the Diamond Sutra

As stars, a fault of vision, as a lamp,
A mock show, dew drops, or a bubble,
A dream, a lightning flash, or cloud,
So should one view what is conditioned.

At 16 Sangharakshita read the Diamond Sutra and so realised he was, and always had been, a Buddhist. Yet in Wisdom Beyond Words he describes the sutra as ‘confusing, irritating, annoying, unsatisfying…‘

However, if we are ‘prepared to have our limiting views and ideas shaken up, there are precious jewels to be found in this centrally important Mahayana sutra, which can unlock the riches in our own minds’ (and Vessantara always enjoys the challenge of explaining the inexplicable).

Explore key parts of the Diamond Sutra, including the nine images with which it ends, through teaching, guided meditations, and devotional practice. The retreat will mainly be in silence to help create the conditions for a satisfying meditation retreat but with enough teaching input to gain new tools and understandings to unpack in your future practice.

In 2024, Vessantara celebrates 50 years as an Order member. He studied the sutra with Sangharakshita in 1982.

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Day 1

DEdication Ceremony

Vessantara leads a dedication ceremony to start off the retreat after welcoming everyone on the first night.

Day 2

Introduction to the Diamond Sutra

Vessantara gives us a history of The Diamond Sutra as one of the three greatly popular sutras in the Mahayana tradition. He then speaks of how the Diamond Sutra helps us to cut through to freedom from our view of ourselves. He also leads 2 meditations exploring our actual experience.

Meditation

Vijayamala leads an open meditation for 30 minutes after check in groups.

Sevenfold Puja

Moksanandi introduces the sevenfold puja as a means for softening our hearts. Before beginning the puja we hear the first few lines of the Diamond Sutra after a short meditation.

Day 3

Subhuti’s attitude to the buddha

Starting off with a meditation, Vessantara then goes into the sutra’s beginning, looking at Subhuti’s attitude to The Buddha. Showing his deep appreciation and gratitude for the Dharma. Looking at the Tibetan analogy of the 3 cups as reasons why we aren’t receptive to the dharma.

Reflecting on Bubbles

Vessantara looks at how we can contemplate the images from The Diamond Sutra to help us catalyse the intuitive knowing of truth behind the image. He then leads meditations particularly reflecting on how experience is like bubbles.

Manjusri Puja

Moksanandi introduces Manjusri to the shrine with a ritual dedicated to him. Encouraging us to open to the mystery of the unknown.

Day 4

how a bodhisattva practices

Exploring how bodhisattvas help living beings without perceiving a living being, and how words and concepts can create the sense of a fixed and separate self.

the thunder cloud

Examining the image of the cloud as a symbol for conditionality and insubstantiality, along with the cloud-like sensations of the body; appearing yet ungraspable.

ritual reading and mantra

An extended ritual reading of the section of text discussed and meditated upon in the first session followed by the Manjusri mantra.

Day 5

He who sees the Dharma sees me

A session of ‘objectless meta bhavana’ as a gateway into talking about annatā. Vessantara explores a verse on how the Buddha can only be seen by seeing the Dharma… and yet the Dharma is unknowable… and yet…

Homelessness and the flickering lamp

Exploring some of the images from the sutra about the nature of phenomena. Contemplating the transience and unsatisfactoriness of everything is only worthwhile if there’s an alternative way of being available to us.

Ritual Reading and Mantra

Moksanandi talks of Manjusri’s sword that cuts through at the appropriate time in to the possibility and mystery of the unknown. This is then followed by a reading from The Diamond Sutra and a mantra.

Day 6

Moving between relative and absolute reality

The Prajñāpāramitā texts were believed to be intentionally incomprehensible to confound our rational minds. Perhaps instead, they’re just challenging us to switch back and forth between different levels of reality eg. watching an actor playing Shakespeare in a recording on a screen – we can enjoy it while being aware of the many layers that aren’t real. 

The Exploration Continues

We continue exploring how to relate to different levels of reality, simultaneously inhabiting paradox and non-paradox.

Ritual Reading and Mantra

Moksanadhi evokes the beauty and mystery of Prajñāpāramitā. Mantra chanting and reading from the Diamond Sutra.

Day 7

The Raft

Are we content to go from wrong view to right view, or are we moving toward Perfect Vision? Does our Dharma life consist of a set of obligations, or is it an adventure? 

Stars that vanish with the morning sun

Contemplating the image of stars in the night sky; exploring the kind of happiness that has no reason and love that has no reason.

Puja to Prajñāpāramitā

Day 8

seeing the ultimate nature

Returning back to the beginning of the Diamond Sutra, Vessantara talks of how, as we develop on the spiritual path we end up returning to the every day but with a sense of freshness to everything. He also looks at the 3 natures from the Yogacara, imagined nature, ultimate nature and seeing as it is nature.

Illusions

Vessantara answers some questions on the Yogacara’s approach of saying everything is a mental representation. He then goes on to talk about the simile of the illusion and how, according to the Yogacara, everything we experience is an object of the mind.

Ritual Reading and “Esoteric Puja”

Moksanandi leads what Bhante calls “The Esoteric Puja” which he happened upon after receiving the Padmasambhava initiation. Nagabodhi also reads another section from the Diamond Sutra.

Day 9

Addressing the depths

“With an open heart everything’s sacred just because it’s happening.” Vessantara looks at the model of ālyavijñāna for addressing the depths in ourselves. He then answers some questions on what the Jinas are, how to feel into the Six element practice and others.

Open Meditation

An Open Meditation starting with the Padmasambhava mantra in dedication to Srisambhava.

Gratitude and Puja

Various people express thanks to Vessantara and the rest of the team, and Moksanandhi leads a seven fold puja with readings from the Diamond Sutra. Vessantara closes the retreat with a visualisation of the three circles of protection.

Retreat Resources

Diamond-Sutra-tr.-SraddhapaDownload
Diamond-Sutra-covering-letterDownload
Short-Praise-of-Prajnaparamita-Download
Diamond-Sutra-retreatantsDownload
Manjugosha-stuti-versesDownload
The-Four-RemindersDownload
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