Toh 1491Untitled

Explanation of the Scripture Toh 1491 - The Vajrayana Tradition

Context

The scripture Toh 1491 in the Kangyur, the Translated Words of the Buddha, is part of the Tibetan Tantra collection and belongs to the foundation of Vajrayana. This is the esoteric tradition of practice containing the most profound methods of the Buddha Dharma, transmitted from the Buddha Tathagata directly to disciples of sharp faculties. Vajrayana differs from Hinayana and Mahayana in that it focuses on transforming this very body of karmic result into buddhahood, rather than only eliminating afflictions or attaining the state of a bodhisattva.

The position of Toh 1491 in the Kangyur indicates that this is a scripture of the Tantra class, in which the Buddha Tathagata or a high bodhisattva teaches Dharma methods related to ritual practice, mind, and energy (prana). The principal purpose of this type of scripture is to provide guidance so that students may enter the mind-ground of the Buddha through methods of meditation and ritual sadhana.

Main Content

Although the title of the scripture has not been clearly identified, Toh 1491 has the typical structure of tantras in Vajrayana. It often begins with the scene of an assembly, where the Buddha Tathagata or the principal deity (yidam) appears in a Tibetan palace, such as Avalokiteshvara's Potala, or in the palace of the chief deity. Bodhisattvas, devas, and Dharma protectors gather to listen to the transcendent teaching.

The scripture then presents gradual methods (krama) for practice. Ordinarily, a tantra instructs in the creation stage (utpatti-krama), in which the practitioner meditates in order to generate the being of the principal deity (yidam) within their own mind; this is followed by the completion stage (sampanna-krama), which concerns the management of subtle energy, mind (citta), and the channels (nadi).