Toh 2064Untitled

Exposition of the Treatise Collection Toh 2064 — Northern Tibetan Mahayana Tradition

Context

This work is preserved in the Tengyur, the Treatise Collection of the Northern Tibetan tradition, a collection of Buddhist treatises and commentaries composed by Indian and Tibetan scholars and Dharma masters in order to explain the Mahayana scriptures. In the context of Mahayana, especially the Northern Tibetan tradition with the influence of Tibetan Buddhism and the original Tibetan tradition, these treatises play an extremely important role. They provide profound interpretations of the nature of Buddha-nature, the bodhisattva path, and methods of practice leading to awakening.

Toh 2064 is a treatise composed during the development of Indian Buddhism after the classical period, when the Mahayana schools had become established and Buddhist scholars focused on critiquing reasoning and clarifying the subtle points of Dharma approaches.

Main Content

Although the title of the scripture is not fully provided, by the standards of the Tengyur this treatise is representative of works that explore central themes of Mahayana: the nature of Buddha-nature, the path of practice of bodhisattvas, and adaptive skillful means (upāya) for liberating beings. Works in the Treatise Collection often analyze in depth concepts such as emptiness (śūnyatā), pure true mind (Buddha-mind), and the principles of non-dual awakening.

In the Northern Tibetan tradition, especially in the Gelug, Kagyu, Nyingma, and Sakya schools, treatises such as this are used to demonstrate that all beings have the potential to become Buddhas. They emphasize the role of the perfection of wisdom (prajñāpāramitā) and boundless compassion (mahākaruṇā) as foundations of practice. The treatise may also discuss the stages of the bodhisattva (Bodhisattva-bhūmi) or elements of tantric path practice (Tantra), in keeping with the distinctive character of Northern Tibetan Mahayana.