Toh 3916Untitled

An Exposition of Treatise Toh 3916

Background

This scripture is found in the Tengyur—the collection of treatises of the Northern Canonical Tradition, comprising commentaries, discourses, and auxiliary works gathered from the venerable sages of Mahāyāna Buddhism. The Northern Canonical Tradition, also known as Tibetan Buddhism, developed upon the foundations of Indian Buddhism and was transmitted by teachers from India to Tibet beginning in the eighth century.

The Tengyur is regarded as a treasury of knowledge concerning the Buddha’s teachings, including the Upadeśa (instructions) of great masters such as Nāgārjuna, Asaṅga, Vasubandhu, and other bodhisattvas. Every scriptural treatise in the Tengyur is intended to help sentient beings understand more clearly the nature of mind, the Dharma, and the path of cultivation leading to awakening. Toh 3916 is one of the works of great value for developing wisdom (prajñā) and meditative concentration.

Main Content

Although its specific title has not been fully translated, this scripture belongs to the class of commentaries or treatises that elaborate upon the wondrous Dharma scriptures of the Mahayana. In the Northern Canonical Tradition, such treatises commonly focus on explaining aspects of the Bodhisattva Vehicle (Bodhisattva-yāna).

This scripture may address such essential subjects as the nature of the bodhisattva mind (bodhicitta)—the aspiration to attain buddhahood not only for oneself but for all sentient beings; the understanding of emptiness (śūnyatā)—not as nothingness, but as freedom from clinging to concepts; and the bodhisattva perfections (Pāramitā)—the six or ten principal means of transcendence through which one acts for the benefit of sentient beings.

This treatise may also contain detailed instructions on contemplative cultivation (bhāvanā), methods of meditation, and ways to develop immeasurable compassion (karuṇā) and sympathetic joy (muditā).