Toh 44-35Chapter 35: The Acceptances

The Sutra on Acceptance (Bzod pa’i Le’u)

Commentary on Chapter 35 from the Kangyur

Background

The chapter “The Acceptances” (Bzod pa’i Le’u — the Chapter on Acceptance) belongs to the Kangyur canon of the Northern Tibetan Mahayana tradition, recorded within the Tibetan Buddhist system of classification. In the Mahayana context, the concept of “acceptance” (bzod pa, Sanskrit: kṣānti) is not simply practical patience, but a lofty Dharma practice aimed at penetrating the impermanent and selfless nature of all dharmas.

This chapter is regarded as part of a collection of scriptures focused on the mental dispositions and practices necessary for attaining buddhahood. In the Northern Tibetan tradition, acceptance is considered one of the subtlest elements of the path of practice, because it is connected with a clear understanding of the nature of all phenomena.

Main Content

The concept of “acceptance” in this chapter is explained on many levels. At a basic level, it is the capacity to accept the truth of suffering, impermanence, and the characteristics of the phenomenal world without denial or grasping. More deeply, it is the practice of attaining a clear, fully awakened state of mind, free from psychological entanglements concerning dharmas.

In the Northern Tibetan Mahayana, acceptance is not passive submission. It is an active deed, a profound recognition that all dharmas are impermanent (anicca), without an independent essence (anattā), and that therefore fear, craving, and aversion have no basis. This chapter is intended to guide practitioners beyond basic psychological obstacles, prejudices, and biased judgments.

Acceptance is also related to the concept of “anumodana” (rejoicing in and accepting merit). In the Mahayana context, this is expanded to include unconditional acceptance of all positive actions of all sentient beings, as well as the practitioner’s own mind accepting the difficulties and challenges on the path of practice.