Toh 1615Untitled

Exposition of Toh 1615 — The Tengyur Treatise Collection

Context

Toh 1615 is a work belonging to the Abhidharma (Abhidharmakośa) section of the Tengyur in the Northern Tibetan tradition. The treatise collection comprises commentaries by Indian Buddhist masters intended to elucidate and safeguard the Buddha’s true Dharma. Within the Mahayana context of the Northern Canon, these treatises play an exceedingly important role, providing the theoretical foundation for practice according to the Tibetan Vajrayana path.

The compilation of the Tengyur in Tibet during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries preserved thousands of valuable translations of Indian Buddhist works. Although the title of Toh 1615 has not been clearly identified, it belongs to a profound current of inquiry into the nature of phenomena, their essential constitution, and the correct understanding of reality (dharmatā) within the frameworks of Madhyamaka and Yogacara.

Principal Content

Treatises in the Tengyur commonly focus on explaining the profound meaning of the sutra collections and anthologies of scripture. Toh 1615 lies at the heart of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, emphasizing that all sentient beings are equal in possessing buddha-nature—one of the most important doctrinal foundations of Tibetan Vajrayana.

This work continues the commentarial tradition of masters such as Vasubandhu and Asaṅga, as well as Tibetan teachers, exploring fundamental questions: What is mind? What are phenomena? What relationship exists between mind and phenomena? This understanding is not merely theoretical but is also closely connected with the practice of Deity Yoga and Vajrayana.

According to the Northern Tibetan tradition, clearly understanding the nature of mind and phenomena is a prerequisite for the profound practice of such teachings as meditative absorption (dhyāna), non-perception (asaṃjña), and ultimately prajnaparamita (Paramitā)—the six perfections.

Practical Significance

Although Toh 1615 is primarily a theoretical commentary, its practical value is exceedingly profound. Within the Tibetan path of practice,