Toh 3923Untitled

An Exposition of Toh 3923 — The Tengyur Collection of Treatises of the Northern Canonical Tradition

Background

Toh 3923 belongs to the Tengyur (Tibetan Translation—“Translations of the Masters”), a collection of Buddhist commentaries translated from Sanskrit into Tibetan from the eighth through the thirteenth centuries. It is one of more than 3,600 works in the collection of treatises of the Northern Canon, including commentaries by bodhisattvas, wise masters (Ācārya), and learned scholars on the Mahayana scriptures. The Northern Canonical Tradition, particularly in the context of Tibetan Buddhism, has regarded the Tengyur as an essential treasury of teachings supplementing the Kangyur (the translations of the principal scriptures).

Although the title of the scripture has not yet been clearly identified in the descriptive information, judging from the character of the Tengyur, Toh 3923 is likely a commentary or a work that systematizes the Jewel of the Dharma to help practitioners gain a deeper understanding of an aspect of Mahayana practice.

Main Content

In the Northern Mahayana Canonical Tradition, Tengyur treatises commonly focus on one of three principal fields: Prajñāpāramitā (Perfection of Wisdom), Madhyamaka (the Middle Way), or Yogācāra (Mind-Only). They may also concern teachings on the bodhisattva path, the four noble truths (the four foundations of the Buddha Dharma), or specific methods of practice.

The commentaries in the Tengyur are not merely theoretical observations, but also profound guides to practice. They help practitioners understand the ultimate purpose of the Buddha’s teachings: to liberate all sentient beings from the cycle of samsāra through the bodhisattva path, namely, by accumulating merit and wisdom until buddhahood is attained. Toh 3923, as part of this collection, has the task of clarifying difficult aspects of the Dharma and helping practitioners advance step by step along the path to awakening.

Practical Significance

For a modern practitioner of the Northern Mahayana Canonical Tradition, works such as Toh 3923 remind us that practice does not entail a separation between theory and action.