Toh 3959Untitled

Exposition of Text No. Toh 3959 — The Northern Tibetan Mahayana Tradition

Background

This work belongs to the Tengyur—the collection of treatises of the Northern Tibetan tradition, compiled and preserved from the eighth century onward. The Tengyur comprises explanations, commentaries, and works by discerning bodhisattvas intended to elucidate the profound teachings of the Buddha’s Dharma. Text number Toh 3959 is a theoretical treatise (śāstra) of great value for developing an understanding of Mahayana Buddhism, particularly teachings concerning Buddha-nature, the bodhisattva path, or aspects of emptiness (śūnyatā).

Within the context of the Northern Tibetan tradition, treatises such as this are regarded as precious instructions enabling practitioners to understand the Mahayana scriptures profoundly and avoid errors in theory and practice. They connect the Indian Dharma tradition with the spiritual needs of Tibetan devotees and those in other Buddhist regions of northern Asia.

Main Content

Although the title has not been fully identified in the currently available descriptive information, this text is a treatise in the Tengyur and would generally focus on elucidating one or more core principles of the Mahayana. Treatises in this collection commonly cover the following:

First, concepts concerning Buddha-nature—the teaching that all sentient beings have the capacity to become Buddhas and that this Buddha-nature is inherent rather than created. This forms the basis of the Mahayana conviction in the universal possibility of liberation.

Second, the treatise may address bodhisattva-caryā (the bodhisattva conduct) and the two great aspirations: the aspiration to liberate oneself and the aspiration to liberate all sentient beings. From these arise compassionate action (karuṇā), wisdom (prajñā), and the perfections (pāramitā).

Third, it may address aspects of emptiness and dependent arising—the explanation of the relationship among phenomena, causes and conditions, and the empty nature of all dharmas, which is the key to transcending mistaken views.