| The Tibetan Buddhist canon is a loosely | | | | Atisa holder of the “mind training” |
| defined list of sacred texts recognized | | | | (Tib. lojong) teachings |
| by various sects of Tibetan Buddhism. | | | | Bhavaviveka early expositor of the |
| In addition to earlier foundational | | | | Svatantrika Madhyamika |
| Buddhist texts from early Buddhist | | | | Buddhapalita early expositor of the |
| schools, mostly the Sarvastivada, and | | | | Prasangika Madhyamika |
| mahayana texts, the Tibetan canon | | | | Chandrakirti considered the greatest |
| includes Tantric texts. | | | | exponent of Prasangika Madhyamika |
| The Tibetan Canon underwent a final | | | | Haribhadra commentator on Asanga's |
| compilation in 14th Century by Bu-ston | | | | Ornament of Clear Realization |
| (1290-1364). The Tibetans did not have a | | | | Kamalashila 8th-century author of |
| formally arranged Mahayana canon and so | | | | important texts on meditation |
| devised their own scheme which divided | | | | Shantarakshita abbot of Nalanda, founder |
| texts into two broad categories: | | | | of the Yogachara-Madhyamika who helped |
| 1. Kangyur (Wylie: Bka'-'gyur) or | | | | Padmasambhava establish Buddhism in |
| "Translated Words", consists of works | | | | Tibet |
| supposed to have been said by the Buddha | | | | Shantideva (8th century Indian) author |
| himself. All texts presumably have a | | | | of the Bodhicaryavatara |
| sanskrit original, although in many | | | | Vimuktisena commentator on Asanga's |
| cases the Tibetan text was translated | | | | Ornament of Clear Realization |
| from Chinese or other languags. | | | | Five traditional topics of study |
| 2. Tengyur (Wylie: Bstan-'gyur) or | | | | All four schools of Tibetan Buddhism |
| "Translated Treatises" is the section to | | | | generally follow a similar curriculum, |
| which were assigned commentaries, | | | | using the same Indian root texts and |
| treatises and abhidharma works (both | | | | commentaries. The further Tibetan |
| Mahayana and non-Mahayana). The Tengyur | | | | commentaries they use differ by school, |
| contains 3626 texts in 224 Volumes. | | | | although since the 19th century |
| The Kangyur is divided into sections on | | | | appearance of the widely renowned |
| Vinaya, Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, | | | | scholars Jamgon Kongtrul and Ju Mipham, |
| other sutras (75% Mahayana, 25% Nikaya / | | | | Kagyupas and Nyingmapas use many of the |
| Agama or Hinayana), and tantras. When | | | | same Tibetan commentaries as well. |
| exactly the term Kangyur was first used | | | | Different schools, however, place |
| is not known. Collections of canonical | | | | emphasis and concentrate attention on |
| Buddhist texts existed already in the | | | | different areas. |
| time of Trisong Detsen, the sixth king | | | | The exoteric study of Buddhism is |
| of Tubo. | | | | generally organized into "Five Topics," |
| The exact number of texts in the Kangyur | | | | listed as follows with the primary |
| is not fixed, each editor takes | | | | Indian source texts for each: |
| responsibility for removing texts he | | | | 1. Abhidharma (Higher Knowledge, Tib. |
| considers spurious, and adding new | | | | wylie: mdzod) |
| translations. Currently there are about | | | | Compendium of Higher Knowledge |
| 12 available Kangyur. These include the | | | | (Abhidharma Samuccaya) by Asanga |
| Derge, Lhasa, Narthang, Cone, Peking, | | | | Treasury of Higher Knowledge (Abhidharma |
| Ugra, Phudrak, and Stog Palace versions, | | | | Kosha) by Vasubandhu |
| each named after the physical location | | | | 2. Prajna Paramita (Perfection of |
| of its printing. In addition some | | | | Wisdom, Tib. wylie: par-phyin) |
| canonical texts have been found in Tabo | | | | Ornament of Clear Realization |
| and Dunhuang which provide earlier | | | | (Abhisamaya Alankara) by Maitreya as |
| exemplars to texts found in the Kangyur. | | | | related to Asanga |
| All extant Kangyur appear to stem from | | | | The Way of the Bodhisattva |
| the Old Narthang Kangyur. The stemma of | | | | (Bodhicharyavatara) by Shantideva |
| the Kangyur have been well researched in | | | | 3. Madhyamaka (Middle Way, Tib. wylie: |
| particular by Helmut Eimer. | | | | dbuma) |
| Exoteric or Sutra tradition | | | | Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way |
| In the Tibetan tradition, some | | | | (Mulamadhyamakakarika) by Nagarjuna |
| collections of teachings and practices | | | | Four Hundred Verses on the Yogic Deeds |
| are held in greater secrecy than others. | | | | of Bodhisattvas (Catuhsataka) by |
| The sutra tradition is comprised of | | | | Aryadeva |
| works said to be derived from the public | | | | Introduction to the Middle Way |
| teachings of the Buddha, and is taught | | | | (Madhyamakavatara) by Chandrakirti |
| widely and publicly. The esoteric | | | | Ornament of the Middle Way |
| tradition of tantra (below) is generally | | | | (Madhyamakalamkara) by Shantarakshita |
| only shared in more intimate settings | | | | The Way of the Bodhisattva |
| with those students who the teacher | | | | (Bodhicharyavatara) by Shantideva |
| feels have the capacity to utilize it | | | | 4. Pramana (Logic, Means of Knowing, |
| well. | | | | Tib. wylie: tshadma) |
| Important Indian scholars | | | | Treatise on Valid Cognition |
| Two Supremes | | | | (Pramanavarttika) by Dharmakirti |
| Two Indian Buddhist scholars are widely | | | | Pramanasamuccaya by Dignaga |
| considered to be of paramount importance | | | | 5. Vinaya (Vowed Morality, Tib. wylie: |
| by Tibetan Buddhists. As such, they are | | | | 'dul-ba) |
| referred to as the Two Supremes. | | | | The Root of the Vinaya (Dülwa Do Tsawa) |
| Asanga founder of the Yogachara school | | | | by the Pandita Gunaprabha |
| Nagarjuna founder of the Madhyamaka | | | | Five treatises of Maitreya |
| school | | | | Also of great importance are the "Five |
| Six Scholarly Ornaments | | | | Treatises of Maitreya." These texts are |
| These scholars's works are of secondary | | | | said to have been related to Asanga by |
| importance to the Tibetan Buddhist | | | | the Buddha Maitreya, and comprise the |
| canon. As the ranking of their | | | | heart of the Yogachara (or Cittamatra, |
| importance is not as universally | | | | Mind-Only) school of philosophy in which |
| recognized, there are occasionally | | | | all Tibetan Buddhist scholars are |
| substitutions made in this list. | | | | well-versed. They are as follows: |
| Aryadeva foremost disciple of Nagarjuna, | | | | Ornament for Clear Realization |
| continued the philosophical school of | | | | (Abhisamayalankara, Tib. mngon par rtogs |
| Madhyamika | | | | pa'i rgyan) |
| Dharmakirti famed logician, author of | | | | Ornament for the Mahayana Sutras |
| the Seven Treatises; student of | | | | (Mahayanasutralankara, Tib. theg pa chen |
| Dignana's student Ishvarasena; said to | | | | po'i mdo sde'i rgyan) |
| have debated famed Hindu scholar | | | | Sublime Continuum of the Mahayana |
| Shankara | | | | (Mahayanottaratantrashastra, |
| Dignaga famed logician | | | | Ratnagotravibhaga, Tib. theg pa chen po |
| Gunaprabha foremost student of | | | | rgyud bla ma'i bstan) |
| Vasubandhu, known for his work the | | | | Distinguishing Phenomena and Pure Being |
| Vinayasutra | | | | (Dharmadharmatavibhanga, Tib. chos dang |
| Sakyaprabha prominent expositor of the | | | | chos nyid rnam par 'byed pa) |
| Vinaya | | | | Distinguishing the Middle and the |
| Vasubandhu author of the Abhidharmakosha | | | | Extremes (Madhyantavibhanga, Tib. dbus |
| Seventeen Great Panditas | | | | dang mtha' rnam par 'byed pa) |
| References are sometimes made to the | | | | A commentary on the Ornament for Clear |
| Seventeen Great Panditas. This | | | | Realization called Clarifying the |
| formulation groups the eight listed | | | | Meaning by the Indian scholar Haribhadra |
| above with the following nine scholars. | | | | is often used, as is one by Vimuktisena. |