Toh 4001Untitled

An Exposition of Tengyur Text Toh 4001

Northern Mahayana Tradition

Background

The Tengyur (Bkal 'gyur), or “Collection of Treatises,” is a compilation of treatises, commentaries, and instructions for practice based on the Mahayana sutras of the Northern tradition. Toh 4001 belongs to a body of profound exegetical works serving the schools of Tibetan Buddhism, particularly the Gelug, Nyingma, and other schools.

The Tengyur was compiled approximately between the ninth and thirteenth centuries, when Indian and Tibetan Buddhist scholars jointly translated and commented upon Buddhist materials. This undertaking was carried out with the support of Tibetan kings and religious leaders in order to preserve the traditional teachings of Mahayana and Vajrayāna (Tantric Buddhism).

Although Toh 4001 has not yet been fully translated and published, it belongs to a series of exegetical treatises explaining principles of practice or profound Mahayana contemplations, possibly concerning such Buddhist teachings as buddha-nature, wisdom and skillful means, or the Dharma nature.

Main Content

In keeping with the spirit of the Northern Mahayana tradition, the treatises in the Tengyur generally revolve around fundamental subjects: the Six Perfections (Liù Ba La Mật Đa), the Four Noble Truths, bodhicitta, and especially the understanding of emptiness (Śūnyatā) within the context of the Madhyamaka teachings.

This text may explain how to cultivate bodhicitta—unconditional love for all sentient beings—or how to employ skillful means (Upāya Kauśalya) to guide beings toward their true nature. In the Northern tradition, phenomena and ultimate reality are not separate; all dharmas are empty of inherent nature (Nairātmya), yet at the same time exist conventionally.