Toh 757The Sūtra of Great Strength

The Sutra of Great Strength (Mahabalasutra)

Background

The Sutra of Great Strength (Mahabalasutra) is an important scripture in the Northern Tibetan Mahayana tradition, compiled within the Kangyur, the collection of the Buddha’s teachings translated into Tibetan in the ninth century. This scripture reflects the spirit of Mahayana Buddhism, especially emphasizing the transformations and limitless powerful strength of bodhisattvas and Buddhas.

The scripture is set in a sacred context, where the Buddha and the bodhisattvas gather to discuss the nature of the transcendent powers that Mahayana practitioners may develop. This scripture corresponds to other scriptures in the Tibetan tradition, such as those concerning siddhi (spiritual accomplishments) and abhijna (supernormal knowledges).

Main Content

According to the Mahayana tradition, “great strength” (mahabala) is not merely physical force or ordinary miraculous power, but the boundless spiritual power of bodhisattvas developed through the stages of practice (bhumi). These strengths include the power of immeasurable compassion, the power of selflessness (anatman), the power of meditative concentration (samadhi), and the power of inconceivable wisdom (acintyajnana).

The content of this scripture focuses on describing how bodhisattvas develop these powers in order to liberate countless beings from the cycle of samsara. The scripture teaches that true strength does not lie in domination or control, but in the ability to empathize, transform, and guide all beings toward awakening.

The scripture also emphasizes that Buddhas of the past, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, each manifest the limitless strength of the dharmakaya in their own distinct ways. Through the teachings on “great strength,” the Buddha points out that the Buddha-nature (buddhadhatu) exists in all beings and can be released through practice.