Toh 1913Untitled

Exposition of the Tantra Scripture (Toh 1913)

Background

This scripture belongs to the Kangyur, the Tantra section, one of the most important canonical collections of the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition. The Tantra section was taught by Buddha Shakyamuni in the form of esoteric instructions, intended for disciples of profound capacity who had already practiced Mahayana to a certain degree.

The Kangyur consists of 108 volumes, containing all the teachings of the Buddha and the bodhisattvas translated from Sanskrit-Tibetan into Tibetan from the eighth to the thirteenth century. The esoteric scriptures in the Tantras are arranged according to four classes: Kriya Tantra (Action Tantra), Charya Tantra (Conduct Tantra), Yoga Tantra, and Anuttarayoga Tantra (Unsurpassed Yoga Tantra), each representing an increasingly profound level of practice.

Toh 1913 is recorded in this collection as one of the traditional teachings of Tantra, although its title has not been fully identified. This indicates that the scripture is a teaching preserved within practice traditions and regarded as necessary for Tantric practice.

Main Contents

Esoteric scriptures of this type often focus on the doctrine of Mahayana combined with the unique methods of Tantric practice. The core point is the integration of Perfect Wisdom (Prajnaparamita) and Skillful Means (upaya-kausalya), which allows all beings to attain bodhi within a single lifetime.

The Tantra section differs from other traditions in that it does not regard body, speech, and mind as obstacles to be transcended. Instead, they are transformed and redirected through meditations (sadhana), mantras, and mudras. This practice is called “transforming poison into medicine,” with the understanding that personal desires and emotions, when rightly understood and skillfully practiced, can become a direct power for awakening.