Toh 3755Untitled

Exposition of a Kangyur Tantra Scripture (Toh 3755)

The Vajrayāna Tradition

Background

This scripture belongs to the collection of tantric scriptures in the Kangyur, the sacred canon of the Tibetan tradition, compiled in the eleventh century. Toh 3755 is found in the Tantra section, which contains the most exalted teachings of the Vajrayāna, also called the Bodhisattva Vehicle of Tantra.

Unlike the ordinary teachings of the Lesser Vehicle and the Mahāyāna, Tantra does not merely teach the theory of liberation, but also provides direct methods of practice for transforming the energies of the mind. These tantric scriptures are regarded as secret Dharma teachings, intended only for those who have received empowerment (abhiṣeka) from a qualified guru. They are often written in the form of metaphor and symbolism, requiring the practitioner to have the guidance of a teacher in order to understand their true meaning clearly.

Main Contents

Although the title of the scripture has not been fully translated, this scripture, like all the tantras in the Kangyur, is directed toward the common goal of Tantra: attaining the body, speech, and mind of Buddha within a single lifetime.

Tantras often include:

The theory of the luminous mind (Buddha-mind): It teaches that mind is by nature luminous, undefiled, and can be cultivated through practices of meditative stability and meditation. Buddha is not something outside us, but the nature already present within our own mind.

The system of chakra and nāḍī (mental energy): The scripture gives instructions on the energy centers in the subtle body, and on how to use breath and mind to transform this energy into wisdom.

Deity yoga: A method that uses the image of deities, such as Vajradhara, Cakrasaṃvara, or Kālacakra, to transform the mind and body of the practitioner. This is not worship, but a profound psychological instrument.

The sequence of sādhana: The steps of practice are constructed according to a logic: from a peaceful and purified mind, to visualizing the form of the deity, and then merging with the wisdom of emptiness.