Toh 1714Untitled

Exposition of Toh 1714 - Tengyur Abhidharma-pitaka

Background

Toh 1714 belongs to the Abhidharma-pitaka (Tengyur) of the Northern Tibetan tradition, comprising commentarial treatises that expound on the basis of the Mahayana sutras. The Tengyur contains more than 3,000 works by supreme bodhisattvas and Indian Buddhist scholars, translated into Tibetan from the eighth to the thirteenth centuries. This Abhidharma-pitaka is a symbol of the completeness and profundity of the Northern Tibetan Mahayana Buddha Dharma.

Although the title of the scripture is not fully recorded in the descriptive information, the work Toh 1714 lies within the Tengyur classification system for commentaries on Mahayana theory and practice. These works often focus on themes such as the nature of Buddha-nature, the bodhisattva path, emptiness (sunyata), or specific methods of practice for attaining awakening.

In the Northern Tibetan tradition, the Abhidharma-pitaka is regarded as a sequence of authentic explanations from bodhisattvas such as Nagarjuna, Asanga, Vasubandhu, and Dharmakirti, sages who conveyed the intent of the Buddha through profound and logically rigorous commentaries.

Main Content

The specific content of this scripture has not yet been fully translated. However, based on the context of the Tengyur and the Northern Tibetan tradition, Toh 1714 is very likely to address the core themes of Mahayana.

One of the principal axes of Tengyur commentaries is the explanation of inherent Buddha-nature, the doctrine that all sentient beings possess the potential to become Buddhas. This differs from the Hinayana view of individual practice.

Another theme is the bodhisattva path, with the Six Paramitas: generosity, discipline, patience, diligence, concentration, and wisdom. Tengyur commentaries often analyze deeply how each perfection is cultivated in order to accumulate immeasurable merit, so as finally to pass beyond forgetfulness along the bodhisattva path and liberate all sentient beings.