Toh 301The Sūtra on Going Forth

An Exposition of the Sūtra on Going Forth (Abhiniṣkramaṇasūtra)

Background

The Sūtra on Going Forth is a profound sūtra belonging to the Northern Transmission canon, recorded in the Kangyur as Toh 301. It is an important part of the Mahāyāna Buddha Dharma, centered on the story and meaning of Buddha Śākyamuni’s abandoning royal life in order to pursue the path of liberation.

In the Northern Tibetan tradition (also called Tibetan Buddha Dharma), abhiniṣkramaṇa — that is, “renunciation” or “going forth” from the ordinary world — is not only a historical event, but a profound symbol of relinquishing the bonds of personal existence and deluded thought. This sūtra is taught in order to help practitioners clearly understand the Buddha’s inner motivation and, from that, find inspiration for their own path of cultivation.

The Buddha’s going forth was not flight or rejection of life, but a noble decision based on profound awareness of suffering (dukkha), the cause of suffering, and the possibility of liberation. This is precisely the spirit of true Dharma practice in the Mahāyāna.

Main Content

The Sūtra on Going Forth recounts how the Buddha, while still Prince Siddhartha, lived in the palace amid countless material pleasures, yet his mind was always turned toward profound questions: Why must human beings endure sickness, old age, and death? Is there any way to escape this cycle of saṃsāra?

The prince, though shielded from sights of suffering, ultimately came to recognize the nature of the world. The four encounters — a feeble old man, a sick person, a corpse, and a peaceful ascetic — opened his mind’s eye. From these encounters, he realized that there is no safety in this world, and that only through the path of going forth could true peace be found.

On the fateful night, when everyone was asleep, the prince, together with his sole water bearer Chandaka, again went out from the palace.