Toh 1405Untitled

Exposition of Scripture Toh 1405 -- The Vajrayana Tradition

Context

This scripture belongs to the Kangyur (Bka' 'gyur), the collection of the discourses of the Buddha and advanced bodhisattvas in the Tibetan tradition. Toh 1405 is located in the Tantra section, which contains the profound practice materials of Esoteric Buddhism, or Vajrayana.

Vajrayana is the path of Buddha Dharma emphasized in the monasteries of Tibet, Bhutan, Mongolia, and Tibetan ethnic regions. Unlike the Sutra section of the Mahayana, the Tantra section focuses on methods of swift transformation through the practice of Anuttara Yoga Tantra, under the guidance of a teacher and through secret transmissions. Tantric scriptures in the Kangyur often concern specific deities (yidam -- ཡི་དམ), rites (sadhana), and profound visualizations.

Although this scripture presently has no specific translated title, according to its position in the Tantra section it is certainly a reliable practice text intended to guide those who have entered upon the Tantric path.

Main Content

Tantric scriptures in the Kangyur generally include core elements: (1) the appearance of a deity (devata) or the Buddha in another form; (2) the four matters (caturmudra), namely ritual, visualization, the word of attestation, and protection; (3) the secrets of body, mind, and speech expressed through symbolic images (mudra, mantra); and (4) the path of practice from generation visualization (utpatti-krama) to completion visualization (sampanna-krama).

Although the specific content has not been provided, in the context of the Kangyur Tantra section this scripture is likely to guide the practitioner in how to establish principles of practice under the protection of specific deities, how to conduct daily life in accord with Tantric commitments (samaya), and how to transform impelling experiences (klesha) into wisdom (jnana). This requires a close integration of theory (paramartha) and practice (abhyasa).