Toh 2545Untitled

Explanation of Toh 2545 - Treatise Basket of the Northern Canon Tradition

Background

The Tengyur (Bhaṣya Basket) is a collection of treatises explaining the Buddha Dharma, developed by Buddhist masters after the time of the Buddha. Toh 2545 is contained in this collection, belonging to the Northern Canon Mahayana tradition, and reflects Buddhist thought after the ancient period, when the True Dharma was transmitted into Tibet and developed into a profound school of practice.

In historical context, the period when the Tengyur was compiled was precisely the flourishing age of Tibetan Buddhism, around the eleventh to twelfth centuries. These treatises served the purpose of explaining and clarifying the Buddha’s teachings, helping monastics and practitioners gain a deeper understanding of the Dharma. This is the intellectual foundation supporting Mahayana practice, emphasizing bodhicitta and the bodhisattva path.

Although the title of this scripture has not been specifically translated into Vietnamese, we may understand Toh 2545 as some explanatory treatise within the Treatise Basket, including commentaries on demonstrations of the Buddha Dharma, or instructions on practice according to Mahayana.

Main Content

The treatises in the Tengyur often focus on three principal aspects: theory (理論), practice (實踐), and fruition (果位). Although no specific content has been provided, according to the Northern Canon tradition, Toh 2545 may explain one of the key themes:

If this is a treatise on the Bodhisattva Dharma, its content would teach the six paramitas (the Six Perfections): generosity (dāna), discipline (sīla), patience (kṣanti), diligence (vīrya), meditation (dhyāna), and wisdom (prajñā). Each perfection is analyzed deeply, from its definition to concrete methods of practice.