Toh 2266The Abecedarian Dohā

Exposition of the Kakhasya Dohā Scripture (A Verse in Alphabetical Order)

Context

Kakhasya dohā, or “A Verse in Alphabetical Order” (The Abecedarian Dohā), is a work belonging to the Northern Mahāyāna Tibetan tradition, recorded in the Tengyur (the Northern Translated Canon — Treatise Collection). This work represents a special form of verse, originating from the dohā tradition of Indian Buddhism, in which spiritual masters used poetic form to transmit the Dharma.

Dohā is a type of lyrical verse beloved in the schools of Northern Buddhism, especially Tibetan Buddhism and related traditions. Dohā is not only a tool for teaching the Dharma, but also an expression of awakening through language that is free, breakthrough-oriented, and mysterious. The “abecedarian” form (in alphabetical order) suggests that this scripture is systematically structured, with each line or section beginning with letters in sequence, creating a complete set of verses that is easy to remember and transmit.

Main Content

Although the specific detailed content of this scripture has not been fully translated into Vietnamese in the existing material, according to the Dohā tradition of the Northern Mahāyāna Tibetan canon, verses of this kind often present the core truths of the Dharma through profound images and creative metaphors.

Abecedarian verses are often used to:

First, present comprehensive lessons on the Dharma, from each aspect of the path of practice. Each letter symbolizes an aspect of the Dharma or a stage of practice. Second, create an easily remembered logical framework, helping practitioners grasp the whole teaching without having to depend on books or oral retelling. Third, express awakening through the creative form of language, showing that the Dharma is not confined within rigid structures but is living and adaptive.