Toh 2795Untitled

Exposition of Scripture Toh 2795 — The Tengyur Treatise Section

Context

The Tengyur (Northern Transmission) is a collection of commentaries on the Buddha Dharma, compiled from the teachings of learned bodhisattvas and highly accomplished spiritual masters and translated by Tibetan Buddhist scholars from Sanskrit originals during the eighth to thirteenth centuries. Toh 2795 is one of the treatises concerning the Dharmakāya and the fundamental elements of Northern Transmission Mahayana practice.

The Mahayana — Northern Transmission tradition, also known as Tibetan Buddhism, developed on the basis of the principal transmissions: Nyingma (the ancient tradition), Kagyu (the transmission lineage), Sakya (the Sakya school), and Gelug (the Gelug school). These treatise sections all aim to clarify the profound intent contained in the bodhisattva scriptures, especially the Prajñāpāramitā scriptures, Yogācāra-Madhyamaka, and the systems of tantric practice.

Main Content

Although the scriptural title is not fully provided, based on the context of Tengyur Toh 2795 this work is very likely a commentary on the Dharmakāya — the formless Dharma body of the Buddha, that is, the totality of the merit, wisdom, and Dharma methods that the Buddha realized and transmitted.

In the Northern Canon Mahayana tradition, the Dharmakāya is understood as the ultimate basis of all Buddha bodies (Nirmānakāya, Sambhogakāya). The Dharmakāya has no form, is neither born nor ceases, is without savor (artha), and is always present for the benefit of all beings. This commentary may focus on how disciples can approach the Dharmakāya through understanding the Unborn Mind (Anutpattika-Dharma-Kshānti — the realization that phenomena have no arising, meaning that they are without self-nature).

This work may also discuss the Two Truths (Dvaya-Satya): relative truth (Samvṛtti-Satya) and ultimate truth (Paramārtha-Satya).