Toh 264The Sūtra on Liberation

THE SŪTRA ON LIBERATION

Exposition of the Mokṣasūtra (Toh 264)

Background

The Sūtra on Liberation (Mokṣasūtra) is a precious scripture in the Northern canon, included in the Kangyur—the collection of the Buddha’s authentic teachings translated from Chinese. The title “Liberation” (Mokṣa) immediately expresses the work’s core purpose: to teach the path by which sentient beings escape the cycle of saṃsāra and attain absolute nirvana.

According to the Mahāyāna tradition, especially the Northern Tibetan tradition, this sūtra is regarded as a comprehensive guide to the nature of suffering, the cause from which suffering arises, the path of practice for realizing liberation, and the final state of nirvana. The sūtra is presented as a direct teaching or as a system of doctrine, emphasizing practicality and applicability in the process of cultivation.

Main Content

The specific content of this sūtra has not yet been fully translated in modern systems, but based on the context of the Northern Tibetan tradition and the way similar sūtras are presented, the Mokṣasūtra focuses on both the fundamental and advanced points of the Buddha Dharma.

First, this sūtra teaches the Four Noble Truths—the four noble truths of the Buddha: suffering, origin (the cause of suffering), cessation (the ending of suffering), and path (the path leading to the cessation of suffering). These are the foundation of all Buddhist sūtras, from the Lesser Vehicle to the Mahāyāna.

The sūtra then gives an overview of the nature of mind and selflessness (anātman)—a key teaching. According to the Northern Tibetan Mahāyāna, the mind is empty of intrinsic nature (śūnyatā), yet still luminous and knowing. Mistaking the mind for an eternal self is the root of all delusion (avidyā).

Regarding the path of practice, the sūtra mentions the Noble Eightfold Path (Āryāṣṭāṅgikamārga): right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.