Missing Texts of Historical Value to the Northern Treasure Tradition

Paul Pelliot, cave 163 in Dunhuang. Picture by Charles Nouette, Musée Guimet, archives photographiques, AP8186

Introduction

This page is intended to be used as a central location for preserving information regarding texts, which are of historical value for our study of the Northern Treasure Tradition, that are currently “missing.” The text titles are arranged into four categories. There are strong reasons to believe that each of the texts in Category #1 existed at some point in the past, but we are currently unaware of an extant manuscript. Category #2 is constituted by texts that are not actually missing, but are somehow corrupted or otherwise compromised, leaving us with a desire for alternate recensions. The texts in Category #3 are known to exist in a specific archive, but are difficult to access. Hopefully, these texts will be acquired in the near future. The final grouping, Category #4, is constituted by texts for which there is little evidence that they ever existed at all. Nevertheless, it is best to keep them on the list in case the texts–or evidence of the texts–surface in the future. The nature of each category will become more clear to the reader by examining their contents below.

It is also hoped that this page will serve as an open invitation to researchers around the world who are interested in helping us find these missing texts. While the goal is to augment our understanding of the history of the Northern Treasure Tradition, it is undeniable that there is a certain thrill in the realization that a text has changed in status from “missing” to “extant.” An excellent example is The Garland of Wish-Granting Jeweled Ornaments: A Biography of the Lineage of Lamas of the Northern Treasure Tradition (Byang gter bla ma brgyud pa’i rnam thar bsam ‘phel ma ṇi ka’i ‘phreng ba), which was written by Jatang Gamnyön Chakdor Norbu (bya btang sgam smyon phyag rdor nor bu), the brother of Tenzin Norbu (bstan ‘dzin nor bu) (1589-1644). Dan Martin (1997: 96) reported that this text seemed to be unavailable, which was probably accurate until it was finally published as part of the sNga ‘gyur byang gter chos skor phyogs bsgrigs (2015: Vol. 59: 465-554). While it was already known that the Fifth Dalai Lama used this text as one of his sources for the biography of Ngagi Wangpo, which he composed in 1654, it is now possible to determine exactly what was borrowed from that source.

It should be acknowledged that we are quite aware of dozens of additional titles that will need to be added to the listings below. In fact, this endeavor is conceived as an on-going project that will hopefully continue as long as the FCHNT is active.

One of the immediate goals for this project is to formalize the research procedures that must be carried out before a new text title can be added to this page. 

It should be noted that while the English titles that have been provided below were formulated with a degree of care, they are still provisional in nature.

Listings

Category 1: strong reasons to believe the text existed in the past, but actual location of extant manuscript unknown

Zhal chems thugs kyi thigs pa (The Heart-Essence of the Final Testament)

  • Discovered by Zangpo Drakpa in 1362 and sent to Rigdzin Gödem in 1365.
  • Presumably decoded and transcribed by Rigdzin Gödem between 1365 and 1409, probably earlier in that window than later.
  • Existential Evidence: The Fifth Dalai Lama reports that he received the text from Menlungpa Lodrö Chokgi Dorjé (sman lung pa blo gros mchog gi rdo rje) (1595–1671) and Chöying Rangdrol (chos dbyings rang grol) (1604-1669).
  • Existential Evidence: There are what appear to be two excerpts in Byang gter gyi chos skor rnams kyi spyi chings rin chen phreng ba (383, 412), which was written by Sé Trazangpa Padma Wangchen (Se bKra bzang pa Padma dbang chen) (c. 16th-17th c.). The second excerpt (412) lists the title as Zhal chems thugs kyi yang tig, so it could be a different text. Interestingly, there is one instance in this text (447) where the title is included in a list as Zhal chems thugs kyi yang tig gu ru’i zhal chems.
  • Fifth Dalai Lama’s Summary: slob dpon chen <383b> po nub phyogs srin yul la gshegs khar dbu rtse rigs gsum gyi rnam snang thugs kar phyag mdzub gtad de gsungs pa dang ra sar jo bo śākya mu ni’i thugs kar phyag mdzub gtad de gsungs pa sogs kyi mthar rim gyis gung thang rgyal po’i don du phyogs bzhi mtshams? bzhir gter sbas tshul sogs bstan pa’i zhal chems thugs kyi thigs pa/

Updated: 07/01/2023 (JHV)

sNying byang ‘bring po thugs rje’i ‘od zer (The Ray of Compassion: A Middle-lengthed Essential Guide)

  • Discovered by Zangpo Drakpa in 1362 and sent to Rigdzin Gödem in 1365.
  • Presumably decoded and transcribed by Rigdzin Gödem between 1365 and 1409, probably earlier in that window than later.
  • Existential Evidence: The Fifth Dalai Lama reports that he received the text from Menlungpa Lodrö Chokgi Dorjé (sman lung pa blo gros mchog gi rdo rje) (1595–1671) and Chöying Rangdrol (chos dbyings rang grol) (1604-1669).
  • Existential Evidence: There is a small excerpt in The Ray of Sunlight (104), the 15th century biography of Rigdzin Gödem. There are also two other short excerpts in Byang gter gyi chos skor rnams kyi spyi chings rin chen phreng ba (401, 402), which was written by Sé Trazangpa Padma Wangchen (Se bKra bzang pa Padma dbang chen) (c. 16th-17th c.).
  • Fifth Dalai Lama’s Summary: gung thang rgyal po’i don du gung thang gi phyogs bzhir dgra’i bla byang gi steng du byang chub? mchod rten bzhengs te bar gcod ‘dul ba’i thabs sogs bstan pa snying byang ‘bring po thugs rje’i ‘od zer/

Updated 01/07/2023 (JHV)

sNying byang bsdud pa thugs rje’i lcags kyu (The Iron Hook of Compassion: A Condensed Essential Guide)

  • Discovered by Zangpo Drakpa in 1362 and sent to Rigdzin Gödem in 1365.
  • Presumably decoded and transcribed by Rigdzin Gödem between 1365 and 1409, probably earlier in that window than later.
  • Existential Evidence: The Fifth Dalai Lama reports that he received the text from Menlungpa Lodrö Chokgi Dorjé (sman lung pa blo gros mchog gi rdo rje) (1595–1671) and Chöying Rangdrol (chos dbyings rang grol) (1604-1669).
  • Existential Evidence: There are three excerpts in Byang gter gyi chos skor rnams kyi spyi chings rin chen phreng ba (387, 401, 407), which was written by Sé Trazangpa Padma Wangchen (Se bKra bzang pa Padma dbang chen) (c. 16th-17th c.). Interestingly, these excerpts suggest that the treasure keys of Trazang might be described in this document, which would be an excellent find. So far, the oft quoted discussions of the treasure keys come from the treasure guides that were extracted from the keys themselves by Rigdzin Gödem. 
  • Fifth Dalai Lama’s Summary: gung thang rgyal po’i skye brgyud lung bstan ‘dzeng brag dkar po’i rdo ring gter tshab dang gung thang rgyal po’i pho brang gi phyogs bzhir bdud gnon pa’i thabs sogs bstan pa snying byang bsdus pa thugs rje’i lcags kyu/

Updated 01/07/2023 (JHV)

‘bras mo gshongs kyi ‘phags pa zab mo lung bdun gyi ‘phags pa bka’i lung

  • Treasure Revealer/Authorship: unknown
  • Existential Evidence: There is a single quotation from this text in The Ray of Sunlight (72-73), the 15th century biography of Rigdzin Gödem.
  • Notes (01/07/2023 JHV): It is possible that the text may have had an alternative title. Within the Byang gter gyi chos skor rnams kyi spyi chings rin chen phreng ba, which was written by Sé Trazangpa Padma Wangchen (Se bKra bzang pa Padma dbang chen) (c. 16th-17th c.), there is a list of prophecies found at Zangzang Lhadrak that contains a text entitled: ‘Bras mo gshongs kyi lam yig, which I have not yet found to exist elsewhere. Earlier in the same text by Padma Wangchen, however, he supplies an excerpt from a text, presumably the same one, entitled: ‘Bras mo gshongs kyi lam yig rin chen sgron me. Unfortunately, it is not the same quotation as is found in The Ray of Sunlight.

Updated: 07/01/2023 (JHV)

Category #2: Texts that are extant, but would benefit from an alternate recension

rGyang nas gter gyi lam yig byung tshul (How I Received the Lamyik of the Treasures from Gyang)

  • Written by Rigdzin Gödem between 1365 and 1409. It contains autobiographical content about receiving the treasure scrolls indirectly from Zangpo Drakpa.
  • Extant Recension: rGyang nas gter gyi lam yig byung tshul (ta). in Byang gter lugs kyi rnam thar dang mang ʼongs lung bstan, Sherab Gyaltsen And Lama Dawa, 1983, pp. 255–68. Buddhist Digital Resource Center (BDRC), purl.bdrc.io/resource/MW27866_6183BD. [BDRC bdr:MW27866_6183BD]
  • Textual Problem: Toward the beginning of the text, there is a list of the prophetic guides, which lists Zhal chems thugs kyi thigs pa twice. This is most likely a scribal error, and we are hoping to find an alternate recension that does not have the same problem.

Updated: 07/01/2023 (JHV)

Category #3: Texts known to exist in collections difficult to access

tshe sgrub lcags sdong gi khrid padma ‘phrang ba khrid rgyas pa’i nas khyer bde bar ‘brin tu bskar ba

  • Location: Listed as extant by the Nepalese German Manuscript Cataloguing Project (NGMCP), which means that it is essentially impossible to view unless one goes to Berlin, Germany. I posted a request on ISYT (12/20/2022), and there is someone who will attempt to get us a copy in the new year.
  • Rationale: The NGMCP lists Zangpo Drakpa as the “author.” We want to check the document to determine Zangpo Drakpa’s role. It is unlikely that he is the “author” in the traditional sense, but he may be the treasure revealer. However, I suspect that the text is mistakenly attributed to Zangpo Drakpa because it is on the same microfilm as The Supplication in Seven Chapters.    
  • CNGMCP Listing: https://catalogue.ngmcp.uni-hamburg.de/receive/aaingmcp_tbtdocument_00044915 
  • BDRC Listing: http://purl.bdrc.io/resource/WA0NGMCP44915

Updated: 07/01/2023 (JHV)

‘jam dpal gshin [sic read “bshin”] rjed kyi brgyud las nag por sgo gsum skyed bzlog khyad par can

  • Location: Listed as extant by the Nepalese German Manuscript Cataloguing Project (NGMCP), which means that it is essentially impossible to view unless one goes to Berlin, Germany. I posted a request on ISYT (12/20/2022), and there is someone who will attempt to get us a copy in the new year.
  • Rationale: The NGMCP lists Zangpo Drakpa as the “author.” We want to check the document to determine Zangpo Drakpa’s role. It is unlikely that he is the “author” in the traditional sense, but he may be the treasure revealer. However, I suspect that the text is mistakenly attributed to Zangpo Drakpa because it is on the same microfilm as The Supplication in Seven Chapters.    
  • CNGMCP Listing: https://catalogue.ngmcp.uni-hamburg.de/receive/aaingmcp_tbtdocument_00044914 
  • BDRC Listing: https://library.bdrc.io/show/bdr:WA0NGMCP44914 

Updated: 07/01/2023 (JHV)

Category #4: Texts that may have existed, but little evidence of their existence.

The Treasure Cycles of Zangpo Drakpa (14th c.)
  • Both in How I Received the Lamyik of the Treasures from Gyang (rGyang nas gter gyi lam yig byung tshul), which was written by Rigdzin Gödem, and in The Ray of Sunlight, his primary biography that was written shortly after his passing, Zangpo Drakpa is reported to have extracted what amounts to a total of eight collections of texts. Two of those collections are more or less equivalent to the collection of “eight” prophetic guides that were sent to Rigdzin Gödem in 1365, for which there is ample evidence of their existence. There is, however, no evidence for the existence of the remaining eight cycles:
    • 28 scrolls [containing] the Sādhanas for the Powerful Hayagrīva (rta mgrin dbang gi sgrub thabs)
    • 1 scroll [containing] the Sādhana of Protector Jampa [of rGyang] (mgon po byams pas sgrub thabs)
    • 3 scrolls [containing] the Sādhana of Yakṣa Bulé (gnod sbyin bu le’i sgrub thabs)
    • 7 scrolls [containing] Sādhanas of Avalokiteśvara (‘phags pa spyan ras gzigs kyi sgrub thabs)
    • 2 scrolls [containing] secret Sādhanas with Subjugating Mantras for the Nāgas (klu’i gsang bsgrub drag sngags dang bcas pa)
    • 6 scrolls [containing] Sādhanas of Vajrapāni (phyag na rdo rje’i sgrub thabs)
  • While these missing texts are not “historical” works, their discovery would add depth to Zangpo Drakpa’s biography, which is currently rather thin with respect to his activities that are not directly related to the Northern Treasure Tradition.

Updated: 07/01/2023 (JHV)

Consulted Repositories

The goal is to list a series of repositories here (e.g., BDRC.io) that will be consulted systematically before a new text title can be added to the above listings.

Bibliography

See the page “bibliography” for sources included in the individual entries above.