Toh 3135Untitled

Kangyur Tantra Scripture Toh 3135: An Interpretation in the Vajrayana Tradition

Background

This scripture is recorded in the Kangyur, the Tibetan translation lineage, the first and most important collection of Buddha-Dharma in the Tantric tradition. The Kangyur contains the entirety of the sutras taught by Buddha Shakyamuni, including those belonging to the Tantric tradition that were made public after he entered nirvana. The Tantra section (Tantra meaning "continuity," "continuous stream") represents the highest level of the teachings of the Buddha-Dharma, intended for practitioners who are ready to receive swift and profound methods of cultivation.

In the Vajrayana tradition, these scriptures are not ordinary discourses, but practical instructions on transforming the mind through rituals, mantras, and spiritual visualization. The scripture numbered Toh 3135 is found within the treasury of Tibetan scriptures preserved and translated from the original Sanskrit.

Main Content

Although the title of the scripture has not been fully translated, according to the context of the Kangyur Tantras this scripture is related to one of the important deities or yidams, that is, Buddha-minds, in Vajrayana practice. Such Tantric scriptures commonly teach:

First, evidence concerning the Buddha-nature of all sentient beings. Vajrayana affirms that the path to Buddhahood need not wait through many lifetimes, but can be accomplished in a single lifetime if the practitioner follows the precise instructions.

Second, rituals and practical instructions related to mantra and spiritual visualization (mudra). These visualizations are not ordinary imagination, but direct means for transforming mistaken perceptions of oneself and the world.

Third, teachings on the "two truths": relative truth and ultimate truth. A correct understanding of these two truths is the foundation that enables practitioners to undertake Tantric practice without falling into the traps of materialism or nihilism.