Toh 227The Sūtra Gathering All Fragments
Pāli / Sanskrit:Sarvavaidalyasaṃgrahasūtra
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An Exposition of the Sutra Gathering All Fragments
Background
The Sutra Gathering All Fragments (Sarvavaidalyasaṃgrahasūtra) belongs to the Northern Transmission canon and is preserved in the Kangyur, the complete collection of the Buddha’s teachings compiled from Tibetan traditions. This sutra is especially important in the Mahāyāna, the tradition that believes buddha-nature is present in all sentient beings.
According to the context of the Northern Transmission, “vaidalya” (fragments, points of contradiction) here does not mean only discord in expression, but also truths that seem opposed yet are in fact unified. The sutra teaches that matters which appear contradictory in the words of the Buddha can all be “gathered” into a single truth, suchness (tathatā), when the student correctly understands the intent of the Buddha.
Main Content
This sutra teaches that the Buddha uses different skillful means (upāya) to meet the needs of sentient beings at different stages and with different capacities. Teachings that seem contradictory, such as the existence or nonexistence of self, permanence or impermanence, are all “fragments” that need to be “gathered” into a whole.
The central point of the sutra emphasizes that there is no real distinction among the different teachings. All teachings are directed toward the same purpose: liberation from delusion and the attainment of buddhahood. The sutra teaches deeply on the theory of the “one vehicle” (ekayāna), the idea that all paths of practice lead to the single buddhahood, even though they may develop in many different ways.
In the Northern Transmission tradition, the sutra is also understood in relation to the theory of the “three turnings” (triparivarta) of Mahāyāna psychology, where all understanding is ultimately transformed into the wisdom of suchness. This is the foundation for the practice of the Tathāgatagarbha, the teaching that points out that all sentient beings possess buddha-nature, which needs to be opened and revealed rather than newly created.
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