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