Toh 3767Untitled

Explanation of Scripture Toh 3767 - Tengyur Treatise Piṭaka

Context

Toh 3767 is a work belonging to the Treatise Piṭaka (Tengyur) of the Northern Tibetan Mahayana tradition, the collection of commentaries and annotations by great masters of the Buddha Dharma on fundamental scriptures. The works in the Tengyur serve as a bridge between the Scripture Piṭaka, the direct teachings of the Buddha, and the practical application of Dharma students. The Northern Tibetan tradition, especially the Gelug, Nyingma, Kagyu, and Sakya schools, values the profound study of these commentaries in order to grasp the essential intent of the Scripture Piṭaka.

Although the title of the scripture has not yet been fully translated, from its position in the Tengyur, this work is very likely a commentary on central Mahayana themes, possibly related to the theory of Buddha-nature, the path of the bodhisattva, or issues of consciousness in practice.

Main Content

Works in the Tengyur often gather the profound principles of the Buddha Dharma through methods of logical thought and stringent argumentation. Toh 3767 is similar in this respect, and may focus on explaining the subtle aspects of Mahayana teaching that the Scripture Piṭaka sets forth but does not present explicitly.

In the Northern Tibetan tradition, practice is not based only on faith but must be supported by profound understanding (prajñā). Commentaries often use fundamental reasoning to clarify difficult questions: how does ignorance (avidyā) create difference in cognition? On what basis does the bodhisattva path rest? What is the basic nature of mind (citta-svabhāva)?

The content of this scripture, according to the context of the Tengyur, may very well develop arguments concerning Buddha-nature (Buddhadhātu), which is present in all beings, or concerning the relationship between emptiness (śūnyatā), tathāgatagarbha, and the path to awakening. This accords with the philosophical foundations of the Northern Tibetan schools, especially Madhyamaka and Yogācāra.