Toh 1600Untitled

Exposition of Toh 1600 - Tengyur, the Tibetan Treatise Canon

Context

This scripture belongs to the Treatise Canon (Sanskrit: sastra) of the Northern Mahayana Tibetan tradition, compiled in the Tengyur, a collection of treatises explaining the Buddhadharma, composed by bodhisattvas and accomplished scholars. Toh 1600 is a profound scholastic work, reflecting the spirit of practice of the Northern Mahayana tradition, where the ultimate aim is to become a Buddha in order to liberate all sentient beings throughout countless eons.

The Tengyur was translated and compiled chiefly in the eighth and ninth centuries in Tibet, when monks such as Jinamitra, Dipakarasrijnana, and Tibetan scholars gathered teachings from India. These treatises are not direct discourses of the Buddha, but profound interpretations that help practitioners understand the meaning of the Mahayana scriptures.

Main Content

Although the title of this scripture has not been clearly identified, according to its position and context in the Tengyur, Toh 1600 is likely a treatise on fundamental aspects of Mahayana Buddhadharma. Treatises in this category often focus on such themes as the Buddha-nature of all sentient beings, the bodhisattva path (Bodhisattva-marga), or the methods of practice that lead to Buddhahood.

In the Northern Tibetan tradition, especially the Gelug school, where the Tengyur is regarded as an authoritative resource, treatises of this kind always emphasize the relationship between theory (trikaya, the three bodies of a Buddha) and practice (bhavana). They teach that precise understanding of the nature of phenomena (sunyata, emptiness) is the foundation for the arising of the compassionate mind (bodhicitta), the principal motivation of the bodhisattva.

The treatises in the Treatise Canon often employ rigorous reasoning, guiding practitioners from basic concepts to profound understanding. They not only explain the scriptural text, but also answer practical questions: how can we develop compassion? How can we overcome obstacles on the path of practice?