Toh 2076Untitled

Exposition of Tengyur Scripture Toh 2076 - The Northern Tibetan Mahayana Tradition

Context

This scripture belongs to the Tengyur, the collection of treatises explaining the Buddha-Dharma by eminent masters of Tibetan Buddhism, compiled and preserved in the Northern Tibetan Mahayana tradition. The period of compiling the Tengyur extended from the ninth to the thirteenth centuries, when Tibetan scholars translated and selected the most profound treatises on the Buddha-Dharma from the Indian tradition.

Although the original title of the scripture is not fully provided, with the catalog number Toh 2076 this is a work belonging to the field of advanced Buddhist philosophy, possibly on the subject of Madhyamaka, Yogacara, or issues related to the bodhisattva path. Works in the Tengyur are highly ranked within the practice systems of modern Tibetan Buddhist schools.

Main Content

In the Northern Tibetan Mahayana tradition, the treatises focus on profound understanding of the nature of mind, phenomena, and the path of liberation for all sentient beings. Scripture Toh 2076 is one of the works guiding practitioners through fundamental philosophical questions that any practitioner must face.

The Mahayana tradition emphasizes that Buddha-nature exists in all sentient beings, and that the ultimate aim of practice is not to attain nirvana for oneself alone, but to help all sentient beings escape suffering. Bodhisattva pranidhana, the vows of the bodhisattva, the aspirational commitments of a practitioner devoted to compassion, are the foundation of all religious activity.

Treatises in the Tengyur such as Toh 2076 provide meticulous explanations of prajnaparamita, Tathagatagarbha, and the profound aspects of the bodhisattva path. These works are not merely theoretical, but also indicate a concrete path of practice.