Toh 1726Untitled

Exposition of Treatise Collection Toh 1726 — The Northern Tibetan Mahayana Tradition

Context

The Tengyur (Bstan 'gyur) is the Treatise Collection of the Northern Tibetan Mahayana tradition, containing commentaries, treatises, and teachings by noble sages of the Buddha Dharma that explain the words of the Buddha. The position of Toh 1726 in this collection shows that this is a work of profound significance in the Mahayana tradition, intended to clarify an important aspect of the Buddha Dharma.

The Northern Tibetan Mahayana tradition, through the foundation of Tibetan Tantra, emphasizes the union of the wisdom of śūnyatā (emptiness) with the wisdom from sambodhi (awakening). The treatises in the Tengyur were all composed to help Mahayana practitioners better understand the path of enlightenment for the benefit of others (Bodhisattva path).

Main Content

In the absence of a specific title, we may recognize that Toh 1726 is a commentary or treatise on one of the core themes of the Mahayana: possibly the bodhisattva vows, the doctrine of Buddha-nature, or the pāramitās (perfections), especially the perfection of wisdom (Prajñāpāramitā).

According to the Northern Tibetan tradition, such commentaries often focus on deeply drawing out the teachings that Buddha Śākyamuni taught in the heavenly realm of Trāyastriṃśa or elsewhere. They demonstrate that all sentient beings possess Buddha-nature, and that the bodhisattva path is the only way to perfect complete wisdom (Buddha-wisdom) for the boundless benefit of all beings.

The Tengyur approaches these matters through the lens of Madhyamaka logic or Yogacara, or even a synthesis of both. This allows practitioners to understand how to realize emptiness (Śūnyatā) without falling into impermanence or nihilism, while at the same time maintaining boundless compassion (Karuna-Mahakaruna) toward all sentient beings.