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