The Diamond Sutra

The Diamond Sutra, along with  The Heart Sutra  (also available translated by Red Pine), are arguably the two most popular works of the Prajnaparamita group of Sutras. Indeed they are among the most popular Sutras within the Mahayana cannon as a whole.I own a number of copies of the Diamond Sutra but this is my favourite. It is certainly the one I come back to the most. Red Pine, an award winning translator, always seems to take great care and give a good deal of thought to all his translations. I certainly value all the works of his that I own. I don't think that any translation of a text can be considered definitive but I think this one may come as close as any translation can.Unlike most English translations of the Diamond Sutra, which are typically based on a single text, Red Pine has consulted a wide range of source texts. The texts consulted were the Sanskrit texts of Muller and Conze; two incomplete editions (the Stein and Gilgit editions); six Chinese translations and Tibetan and Khotanese translations. The result is an excellent rendering of the text. Included within the commentary is a comprehensive list of variant readings from the various sources used, for those who are interested. For those who are specifically after a translation of Kumarajiva's text, which is probably the most widely used single source for translations of the Diamond Sutra, I recommend  Describing the Indescribable: A Commentary of the Diamond Sutra . Red Pine does, however, include Kumarajiva's variations, as this is one of the six Chinese translations consulted for this edition.Not only do I like the translation of the core text but I find the introduction, extensive commentaries and glossary extremely helpful and interesting too. The commentary draws on the work of a number of Buddhist commentators on the Sutra, including Hui-neng (638-713), the sixth patriarch of Zen, who produced one of the most influential commentaries on the Diamond Sutra. In  The Platform Sutra: The ZEN Teaching of Hui-Neng  (Hui-neng's most well known work, which is also available in a fine translation by Red Pine), Hui-neng relates how it was upon first hearing this Sutra that he first left home and it was upon hearing this Sutra that he later became enlightened.An excellent work. Thank you Red Pine.

only for the dedicated

Very good and written very well.

Like all of Red Pines translations a great read, essential Diamond...read it this and his Heart Sutra essential reading

Probably the best English translation of The Diamond Sutra, I would recommend this version.

would recommend

A great read, I gained a much better understanding of buddism.

Insightful read.