Toh 3998Untitled

Exposition of Scripture Toh 3998 (Tengyur — Treatise Collection)

Background

This scripture is recorded in the Tengyur (Bka' 'gyur), the Treatise Collection of the Mahayana Northern Tibetan tradition (Vajrayāna). The Tengyur is a collection of commentaries, treatises, and teachings composed by Mahapanditas (Great Scholars) and deeply accomplished Buddhists, explaining the philosophical and practical foundations of Buddhism. Scripture Toh 3998 belongs to the Tibetan lineage, in which sages such as Naropa, Marpa, and Milarepa transmitted and upheld these works over many centuries.

The Northern Tibetan Mahayana tradition inherits a comprehensive system of Buddhist learning, including the Madhyamaka (Middle Way) and Yogacara (Mind-Only) schools. These treatises are not merely theoretical but also provide active practical guidance for those who sincerely pursue the awakening of a Buddha.

Main Content

Although the specific title of Toh 3998 has not been fully translated, this scripture belongs to the class of treatises explaining the fundamental principles of the Mahayana. Treatises in this tradition often focus on such topics as bodhisattva conduct (Bodhisattva-charyā), Buddha-nature, and the stages of practice on the path to awakening.

In the context of the Northern Tibetan tradition, the scripture presents principles concerning mind (citta), the nature of material appearances, and the relationship between cognition and reality. These treatises emphasize that liberation does not mean fleeing the world but clearly understanding the true nature of everything that exists—namely, emptiness (śūnyatā) and dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda).

The teachings in the Tengyur also point out that every sentient being possesses Buddha-nature and that, through suitable skillful means (upāya), everyone has the capacity to attain a Buddha’s awakening. This is the foundation of Mahayana thought: no one is excluded from the path of liberation.