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An Explanation of the Northern Canon — Tengyur Toh 3979
Background
The Tengyur (Bstan-'gyur), or “Translations of the Teachings,” is a collection of treatises and commentaries on the Buddhadharma in the Northern Canonical tradition of Tibetan Vajrayāna Buddhism. Toh 3979 belongs to the collection of treatises (Sūtra-piṭaka), which brings together works that explain and elaborate upon the fundamental teachings of the principal Mahayana scriptures.
In the Northern Tibetan tradition, these treatises are regarded as precious instructions from great masters, helping students gain a more profound understanding of both the theory and practice of the Buddhadharma. They supplement the principal scriptures and provide methods of practice suited to the spiritual disposition of each individual.
Although the title of this scripture has not been clearly identified, its position in the Tengyur suggests that it is very likely a treatise on one of the central subjects of the Mahayana: realization of buddha-nature, the bodhisattva path, or the nature of mind (citta).
Main Content
The treatises in the Tengyur commonly revolve around clarifying the nature of Buddhist practice. In the Northern Tibetan tradition, particular emphasis is placed upon the relationship between emptiness (śūnyatā) and the luminous nature of mind. Scripture Toh 3979 very likely analyzes how the mind can overcome fundamental afflictions (kleśas) through an accurate understanding of the nature of phenomena.
Following the traditions of Madhyamaka and Yogācāra—the two principal philosophical schools of the Mahayana—this treatise may discuss the nonexistence of an independent “self” (anātman), how ignorance leads to suffering, and especially how accurately recognizing that all phenomena lack any fixed nature constitutes the path to liberation.
Within the Northern Tibetan context, this scripture may also emphasize the role of guru yoga and direct transmission from the master, as well as the importance of a cultivated mind capable of receiving these profound teachings.
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