Three Texts That Inspired Me Lately

The Diamond Sutra

I’ve been studying Buddhism, and this text is one of the foundational scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism, a major Buddhist tradition centered on compassion, wisdom, and the bodhisattva path—not only seeking personal liberation, but aspiring to help others awaken as well. Over time, Mahayana gave rise to many different schools, including Chan/Zen, and deeply influenced Buddhist thought across Asia. My first encounter with Buddhism was through the painting The Sixth Patriarch Huineng Cutting the Bamboo and its connection to the Chan idea of sudden enlightenment.

Liang Kai (c. 1140-1210), Song Dynasty (960-1279), hanging scroll, ink on paper, 72.7 x 31.5 cm, Tokyo National Museum.

I Ching (The Book of Changes)

A timeless book of wisdom on change and the patterns of life. I’m less familiar with its English translations. One commentary on the I Ching that truly inspired me recently explores the idea of finding one’s true inner power.

The Untethered Soul

A modern spiritual book on consciousness and inner freedom. Some of its ideas reminded me of the Buddhist thought I encountered in The Diamond Sutra.