"As a lamp, a cataract, a star in space, an illusion, a dewdrop, a bubble,

a dream, a cloud, a flash of lightening, view all created things like this." 

The Diamond Sutra, a mainstay of the Mahayana tradition, has fascinated Buddhists for centuries, because of its insights into dualism and illusion.

In the sutra, once the Buddha has finished his daily walk to Sravasti with the monks to gather offerings of food, he sits down to rest. Elder Subhūti then comes forth and asks the Buddha: "How, Lord, should one who has set out on the bodhisattva path take his stand, how should he proceed, how should he control the mind?"  What follows is a dialogue regarding the "perfection of insight" (Prajñāpāramitā) and the correct way to view ultimate reality. 

The Diamond Sūtra is one of the most influential Mahayana sutras in East Asia, and it is particularly prominent within the Zen tradition, along with the Heart Sutra. We are very delighted that Professor Willis will teach this important and insightful sutra for us.