Toh 1521Untitled

Exposition of Toh 1521 — Tengyur Treatise Collection

Context

Toh 1521 is found in the Tengyur, the Treatise Collection (Shastravarga) of the Northern Tibetan canon, a system of scriptures and treatises translated from Sanskrit into Tibetan between the eighth and twelfth centuries. This was the golden age of Mahāyāna Buddhism in Tibet, when Indian masters such as Śāntarakṣita and Padmasambhava transmitted the Buddhadharma to that land. The Tengyur contains commentaries, expositions, and treatises by great masters intended to explain and develop Buddhist theory.

The position of Toh 1521 in the Treatise Collection shows that this is a work of Abhidharma or a treatise on the Dharma and discipline (Vinaya-śāstra), encompassing basic concepts concerning the nature of phenomena, consciousness, and action. The purpose of these treatises is to help the fourfold Buddhist community (monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen) undertake practice systematically, based on a deep understanding of the teachings.

Main Content

Although the specific title has not been provided, according to the context of the Tengyur Toh 1521, the content of this work is very likely to discuss one of the important themes of the Northern Tibetan Mahāyāna tradition: the principle of cause and effect (karma-phala), the nature of consciousness (citta-svabhāva), or the doctrine of emptiness (śūnyatā).

According to the Tibetan Mahāyāna tradition, treatise masters such as Vasubandhu, Asaṅga, and the masters of the Dge-lugs school affirm that all phenomena have no independent essence (anātman). We are continuous processes (skandha-santāna), with no real “self” or “I” standing behind them. From this profound recognition, practitioners develop renunciation (virāga) and loving-kindness and compassion (maitri-karuṇā) for all sentient beings.

This treatise may also discuss the relationship between intention (cetanā) and action (karma), or the effect of wholesome and unwholesome karma on the continuum of mind (ālaya-vijñāna).