The Diamond `Sutra` is one of the earliest `Mahayana Sutras` now existent. Like the other `Prajna-sutras, ` it is spoken to people who are newly datermined to pursue the Bodhisattva Path, namely，the novice bodhisattvas or lay devotees. This point，as is proved in the paper，has been long neglected，with a result that the origination of `Mahayana` Buddhism has not been clearly understood. Although the `Sutra` is mainly aimed at interpreting the doctrine of Emptiness of `Mahayana`，it never uses such terms as "Emptiness" and "`Mahayana`." This indicates that when the Diamond `Sutra` first appeared，`Mahayana` Buddhism was just in its beginning stage without definite terminology to express itself. "Emptiness" is a synonym of "non-ego(`anatman`)"and "impermanency," terms which made their way into early Buddhist scriptures. The idea of Emptiness is dramatized in the `Vimalakirti-nirdesa Sutra`. A related concept, saying that life is egoless and yet endless, is explained in the Chapter of the `Tathagata's` Lifespan in the Lotus `Sutra`. In the same `Sutra` ,in the Chapter called "The Universal Door of Bodhisattva `Avalokitesvara`," we find a depiction of the Practice of Great Compassion derived from the realization of Emptiness and impermanency.
This paper focuses on the "Commentaries to the Diamond `Sutra` written by `Asanga` and Vasubandhu, and also briefly introduces the 32-chapter division of the `Sutra` made by Prince Chao Ming of the Liang Dynasty. A study of the text of the `Sutra` may be published in the future.
