Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about 84000
Our goal is to complete the translation and online publication of the 1,169 texts in the Kangyur by the year 2035.
We will then fully dedicate our resources to the translation and online publication of the Tengyur.
The Kangyur contains 1,169 texts. Each sūtra is a “text” in our descriptions, but there are also “texts” of other categories not necessarily categorized as sūtras, like the vinaya texts, the tantras, and the dhāraṇīs.
The Tengyur consists of translations of the treatises and other works written by the great Indian Buddhist masters—and hence does not include sūtras, as such, which record the words of the Buddha himself.
There is no mention anywhere that there were ever 84,000 sūtras as such, but there are many mentions that the Buddha gave 84,000 teachings (also called the “84,000 elements of the teachings” or “84,000 dharmaskandhas,” (Tib. chos kyi phung po brgyad khri bzhi stong). The assumption is that all 84,000 teachings are covered by the sūtras as a whole.
For example, if you look through a sūtra like The Jewel Cloud, Toh 231, there are teachings on all ten of the transcendent perfections, each of which is divided into ten, or sometimes many more, topics, some of which are further subdivided into more points. So this is one text / sūtra that probably contains thousands of points of doctrine. I doubt that anyone has ever counted and catalogued each point in all texts, and checked all the duplicates across texts, to come up with the figure 84000; if they have, they don’t seem to have left a record! So people may ask, why 84,000?
The most common explanation is that the Buddha gave (at least) one teaching to counteract each one of the 84,000 different obscurations and afflictions that beings have come up with.
In one way, the figure 84,000 can just be taken as an archetypical large number. It occurs in many sūtras with just that function, numbering all sorts of things like parasols, bodhisattvas, units of measure, chariots, soldiers, palm trees, and so on—not just teachings or afflictions.
However, there are also more detailed explanations that explain how the figure of 84,000 came to be, as an enumeration of all the subtle variations of the kleśas. Most are based on there being four groups each of 21,000—the four subdivisions being, most commonly, for attachment, aversion, ignorance, and the combination of all three, respectively. In other explanations the four divisions are in terms of the category of teaching, i.e. the antidote, into sūtra, vinaya, abidharma, and all three together. Although most explanations don’t go down to a more detailed level, there are also various different ways in which the 21,000 figure is further subdivided.
To thicken the plot, another explanation in the Pali Theragatha has Ānanda saying that he received 82,000 teachings from the Buddha and 2,000 from his senior monks.
So the short answer is that the 84,000 teachings the Buddha gave can be seen either as just a very large number of points that he made; or it can be taken more literally to mean the antidotes that he provided to the 84,000 different obscurations of beings; but that in both cases a large number of these individual points or antidotes are considered to be contained in each text. That this is indeed the case can be seen by reading any of the sūtras, particularly the longer ones.
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Questions about the Kangyur and Tengyur
The Kangyur is the principal collection of the Buddhist scriptures in Tibetan, containing 1,169 texts of 70,000 pages.
The word Kangyur (bka’ ’gyur) literally means “the Word” (bka’) “translated” (’gyur), and refer to the spoken teachings of the Buddha. The texts considered to be “Buddha-word” are the records not only of the Buddha’s own discourses, but also of teachings and explanations given by others––often by his close disciples with his approval, or by other enlightened beings. Also included are systematic compilations of the Buddha’s pronouncements on particular topics, e.g. the rules of monastic discipline in the Vinaya texts.
Translation of the scriptures brought to Tibet began in earnest in the late 8th or early 9th centuries during the reign of King Trisong Detsen, and continued under his successors Senalek and Ralpachen. Translation in this initial imperial period was a highly organized, state-sponsored project, carried out by learned Indian masters (paṇḍita) working with trained Tibetan translators (lotsāwa) under the supervision of a chief editor (zhu chen).
It contains some 900 works in over 100 volumes, all translations into Tibetan of the Indian texts considered to record the words of the Buddha (while its sister collection, the Tengyur, contains translations of the treatises composed by the great Indian Buddhist masters and scholars).
Most Kangyurs (see below) are divided into sections or divisions containing scriptures of different kinds. Their order may differ, but broadly comprise Vinaya (Discipline), Sūtra (Discourses), and Tantra, sometimes with an additional collection of Dhāraṇī (Incantations). The Sūtra section often comprises several separate divisions, which have here been grouped together for clarity under one heading, Discourses, but can be seen as subdivisions within it. For more information on the categories of texts included in the Kangyur, Dr. Phillip Stanley’s summary, based on nearly two decades of research, might be a helpful resource.
Other historical information can be found here, in our Reading Room.
The meaning of “Tengyur” is “the translated treatises”. It is comprised of the Tibetan translations of works written by Indian Buddhist masters, explaining and elaborating on the words of the Buddha.
The Tengyur contains 4,093 texts of 161,800 pages.
Brief guides to the Tengyur and its subdivisions will be added as the project progresses. However, for information on the genres of texts included in the Tengyur, Dr. Phillip Stanley’s summary, based on nearly two decades of research, might be a helpful resource.
The texts were brought to Tibet from India and translated into Tibetan over a long period. The “early period” of translation started in the 7th century, reaching a high point in the 8th and early 9th centuries with a well-developed centralised organisation under royal patronage. There was a break during political upheavals from the mid 9th century, and the “later period” started in the late 10th century.
Multiple copies of the manuscripts of the translated texts were made and kept in different monasteries, but they were not treated as a formalised collection for several centuries. The work of ordering and classifying them into genres began with simple descriptive inventories, and by the early 14th century major efforts were being made to collect copies and compile and edit definitive collections, perhaps inspired by the example of what Chinese scholars had done, as well as in response to the circulation of multiple versions and variations of many texts.
The monasteries of Narthang, Tshal Gungthang, and Zhalu are known to have been active centers of such work in the 14th and 15th centuries, and the great Zhalu scholar and editor Butön (1290-1364) is often credited with an important role in the establishment of the Kangyur and Tengyur in something like its present form. The introduction of xylogaph printing from China in the early 15th century made it easier to standardise the collections, but different editions of both Kangyur and Tengyur continued nevertheless to appear in different regions of Tibet, and new translations as well as newly discovered texts considered “canonical” were still being added in the nineteenth century.
Most of the texts were translated from Sanskrit and a few from other Indic languages; there are also texts that were translated from Chinese.
The Buddhist scriptures, unlike those of Judaism, Christianity, or Islam, are not seen as a closed, defined set of sacred revelations granted to humans by a divine being––the usual definition of a “canon”.
However, the texts in the Kangyur and Tengyur (like those in the Chinese and Pali collections) are often described as “canonical” in the sense that they are accorded a special, authoritative status. Their authority and sacredness derives partly from their provenance, but also to a large extent from their perceived transformative power. This second, less formalised aspect helps to explain why the collections (with the exception of the Pali Canon) have not been treated as completely immutable and closed to further additions.
Another difference is that the various genres within the canonical collections are accorded different levels of sacred authority: the sutras (and tantras in some cases) the most, then the vinaya texts, followed by the abhidharma, and the treatises.
Depending upon the edition, the Kangyur comprises 101-120 volumes, and the Tengyur 220-250 volumes.
Kangyur: Spoken teachings of the Buddha | 1,169 texts containing 70,000 pages. | 84000’s work expected to last 25 years, until 2035. |
Tengyur: Treatises on the Kangyur by Indian scholars | 4,093 texts containing 161,800 pages. | 84000’s work expected to last 100 years, until 2110. |
*One page equals one side of a two-sided folio. Pages are stated in Peking Kangyur and Tengyur pages.
Since no two Kangyur or Tengyur editions are exactly the same (see below), the data above is an estimate of their total cumulative size based on all the texts found in six Kangyurs and four Tengyurs. This data is derived from a special report on Dr. Phillip Stanley’s nearly two decades of research on various editions of Kangyur and Tengyur texts.
This information is based on Dr. Phillip Stanley’s report based on his nearly two decades of research.
The genres or categories of texts contained within the Kangyur include:
- Vinaya (dealing mainly with monastic discipline)
- Prajñaparamita (the texts on the “transcendent perfection of wisdom”)
- Avatamsaka (the “Flower-Ornament” collection of related sutras)
- Ratnakuta (the “Heap of Jewels” class of sutras)
- General Sūtras (all the other sūtras)
- Tantra (the texts of the Vajrayana or “adamantine vehicle”)
- Nyingma Tantra (the tantras brought to Tibet in the early translation period)
- Dharani (short texts based on formulae for recitation)
- Kalacakra (tantra commentary belonging to the “Wheel of Time” class)
The genres or categories of texts contained within the Tengyur include:
- Praises
- Tantra (Vajrayana treatises)
- Prajñaparamita (treatises on the “transcendent perfection of wisdom”)
- Madhyamaka (treatises based on Nagarjuna’s “middle way” philosophy)
- Sutra-commentary (general treatises on sutra topics)
- Cittamatra (treatises related to the “mind-only” views or to some of Asanga’s works)
- Abhidharma (summaries and systematic compilations of doctrine)
- Vinaya (treatises dealing mainly with monastic discipline)
- Jataka (the stories of the Buddha’s previous lives as a bodhisattva)
- Epistles
- Logic
- Language
- Medicine
- Crafts
- Mundane Treatises
Yes, there are many versions of the Kangyur and Tengyur, both manuscript and blockprint, that still exist or are known to have existed. These different versions or “editions”, produced over the centuries in different parts of Tibet, though broadly similar in content, vary in the exact list of texts included, in the order in which the texts and genres are arranged, and in textual details within the texts. Another major area of difference was which sets of tantras were included, this being an issue of strongly held sectarian preferences.
The initial compilation work at the monastery of Narthang in the early 14th century produced a manuscript collection, probably containing multiple copies of some texts, now known as the “Old Narthang”, which no longer exists. However, copies made from this common source were taken to different parts of Tibet and evolved into two slightly different branches or “traditions”, the “eastern” branch being known as the Tshalpa and the “western” later giving rise to the manuscript version known as the Thempangma.
The Tshalpa version of the Kangyur was the product of substantial revision and reorganisation of the texts, as well as the addition of three volumes of tantras from the early translation period. It was the basis for the first woodblock printing, the Yonglé edition, made in China under the Ming dynasty emperor Yonglé in 1410.
As printing technology spread, a number of different woodblock editions were printed, some in China and some in Tibet, all based on the Tshalpa tradition: the Wanli, Lithang and Kangxi editions in the 17th century, and the Choné and Quianlong in the 18th century.
Other regional woodblock editions made from the 18th century onwards, although still based on the Tshalpa tradition, included varying amounts of cross-input from the Thempangma lineage. These are the Narthang, Degé, Urga and Lhasa editions.
The original Thempangma manuscript, made in 1431 and kept in Gyantse, may still exist but has not been identified. Over the centuries many copies were made, one of which is in the Mongolian State Library in Ulan Bator, and another in Tokyo; the manuscript Kangyur in London is a copy of a copy, as is the Stok Palace Kangyur from Leh, Ladakh. The Thempangma tradition did not directly give rise to any printed editions.
There are a few local manuscript Kangyurs which were produced independently of the two lineages derived from the “Old Narthang”: the Bathang, Mustang, Phukdrak and Tawang Kangyurs.
The Thempangma manuscript is considered more reliable than the Tshalpa and other versions in some respects, but many of its better features were incorporated into the later printed versions. It is generally accepted that, overall, the most reliable version of the Kangyur is the Degé collection, printed in the 18th century at the Degé Printery, under the patronage of the Tenpa Tsering, ruler of the Degé Principality, and the editorship of Situ Panchen Chökyi Jungne. A small number of new translations were added by Situ Panchen’s successor, Shuchen Tsultrim Rinchen. Shuchen’s Degé Kangyur, known as the post-Parphu, is the Degé Kangyur that is still being printed today in Tibet, but a facsimile print of the original Parphu printing is also in widespread use.
For the Tengyur, most scholars regard the 18th century Degé edition as the most reliable, followed by the “Golden” Qing dynasty Peking edition. Other blockprint editions are those of Narthang, Choné, and Mongolia.
Many monastery and university libraries have printed copies of the Kangyur and Tengyur; the Degé versions are probably the most widespread.
In addition to the Degé collections, copies of the Peking, Lithang, Choné, Narthang, Urga, and Lhasa Kangyurs, and Choné, Narthang, and Peking Tengyurs are all available in some libraries.
For most people, it is easiest to consult the collections online, and the Buddhist Digital Resource Centre site currently provides outlines and full-text views of the Degé, Stok Palace, Lhasa, Urga, and Narthang Kangyurs, and the Degé, Golden, Narthang and Choné Tengyurs.
A version of the Kangyur and Tengyur, the Nyingma Edition, was published in the US and distributed to institutions world-wide in 1977-1983. It is based mainly on the Degé versions and accompanied by a useful 8-volume research catalogue and bibliography.
A remarkable recent edition of the whole of the Kangyur and Tengyur, published by the Ka-ten Pe-dur Khang in China (and sometimes referred to as the “Pedurma” or “comparative edition”), is based on the Degé versions but notes and lists all the text variants in seven other different versions of the Kangyur (the Yonglé, Lithang, Kangxi, Chone, Narthang, Urga, and Lhasa editions) and three other versions of the Tengyur (the Beijing, Narthang, and Choné editions).
Questions about Donations to 84000
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There are many ways to support 84000’s work, though we have three main sponsorship streams:
Sponsor a Page
From US$5 a word to US$250 a page, you can sponsor the translation of the words of the Buddha, either as a one-time or if you choose to give a recurring donation, your offering will be doubled thanks to our Matching Funds donors.
Sponsor a Sūtra
This is a limited and historic opportunity to support the translation of a major text. Some of the long, important sutras require a sizeable amount of funding to ensure the translation continues through to completion. For more information on sponsoring a sūtra please visit (ENG) https://84000.co/sutra or (CHI) https://84000.co/ch-sutra
Matching Funds
With the generosity of our Matching Funds donors, any donation given on a recurring basis—be it monthly, quarterly, or annually—is matched in full allowing you to double your impact.
Anyone can make a sponsorship as an individual or family. Sponsorships can also be made in the name of a group (such as a company, sangha or temple), with the requirement that the group assigns a single contact person, and that one person will be designated as the sole recipient of any acknowledgement letters or gifts from 84000.
Dealing with ancient turns of phrasing on deep philosophical concepts in classical languages, can be a convoluted and time-consuming process. Moreover, preparatory work such as familiarization of primary and secondary source material, textual comparisons, research, and consultation with scholars on complicated subject-matter and terminology is essential. Additionally, each text is but one of over a thousand, that when fully translated should read cohesively, in style and consistency, as a single Canon.
Some of the essential steps in producing 84000’s academic-level translations include:
- Obtaining and comparing multiple versions of the Tibetan text;
- Studying the meaning of the text, the terms used and any discrepancies found among the various versions;
- Consulting Sanskrit and Chinese versions of the text, along with any other available translations;
- Reading Indian and Tibetan commentaries as well as academic studies that explain the text;
- Researching problems and consulting with advisors;
- Developing several draft translations;
- Incorporating editor feedback on the translation and refining the language;
- Preparing notes, footnotes and other supporting materials for the end-reader;
- Proofreading the translation.
To learn more about each step of the work that is involved in translation, and to understand 84000’s detailed work flow.
“One page” refers to one side of a traditional Tibetan folio. When translated into English, this is roughly equivalent to one and a half A4-sized pages, or two pages of a printed book.
The per-page cost of US$250 was derived from the experience 84000 gained through our pilot translations, as well as comparisons with existing models of compensation for translators. Our guiding principle is to provide a system of support to enable translators to live on a basic level of subsistence through their translation work. This amount simply allows us to render a folio of Classic Tibetan into English, but it does not allow for editing, markup, publications, or any other costs of the organization.
84000 depends on the specialized knowledge and skills of teams of qualified translators and scholars who have a combination of skills that are increasingly difficult to find. Our teams of translators have expertise in: Classical Tibetan; Buddhist Sanskrit; English; Buddhist philosophy; and in some cases offer proficiency in Pali and/or classical Chinese.
This allows 84000 to create high quality, academic-level translations that ensure the most accurate representation of the Buddha’s words possible, and given the urgency of our work, we believe in commensurate compensation so that these experts can to dedicate as much time as possible to translating the Canon, without having to take time away to prioritize livelihood.
Your donation of US$250 allows the commissioning of highly-qualified translators and teams the time to produce one page of the Kangyur in English.
We aim to translate all of the Buddha’s words into modern languages, and to make them freely available to everyone.
Our free global access allows people to read the publications online, or download them in a variety of convenient formats for later study.
We also leverage and integrate new technologies to create comprehension tools, making our translated sūtras as accessible and as beneficial as possible to readers, practitioners, and scholars around the world. These reader-valued interactive features require specialty knowledge and expertise to develop, and allow readers the ability to really engage with the sūtras.
The development and maintenance of our state-of-the-art online Reading Room requires:
The expertise of our Publications team that marks-up translated sūtras for compatibility with the interactive features of our Reading Room;
Our Tech team that integrates new technologies into our Reading Room, allowing readers various search functionalities, simultaneous, bilingual source-text views, integrated trilingual glossary indexes, and much more;
The development of networked translator tools and resources that allow more efficient and consistent glossaries across translations and collaborative planning tools for our 297 translators from around the world.
For other questions, please contact us at info@84000.co.
There are many ways that we acknowledge donors for their generosity. One meaningful acknowledgement we offer to donors of all levels, is to have their names and their dedication messages, offered for prayers during the Dzongsar Monlam prayer festivals held biennially in Bodhgaya, India. For major sponsors’ acknowledgement, please visit: https://84000.co/sponsors
84000 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in Colorado, USA. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by U.S. law. 84000’s federal tax I.D. number is 45-4302237.
Donations made from outside of the USA are subject to the laws of the country from which they are made. For more information on tax-deductibility in your respective country, kindly contact donations@84000.co.
Questions about working for, volunteering with, and supporting 84000
In general, we have found it helpful for translators to form or join a small translation team comprising people with complimentary, relevant expertise. For example: Expertise in classical Tibetan, especially in the language, terms, and syntax used in the canonical texts; expertise in Buddhist Sanskrit; and a native English speaker who writes well and preferably knows Tibetan and Sanskrit, too.
Every year around mid-April, our annual grant cycle opens for applications. Teams are asked to select a text from the Selected Source Texts Listing, and to complete the application form and requirements.
For more information on awards of grant, please visit our Grants page.
To stay informed of our grant cycle openings, please subscribe to our eNews: https://84000.co/subscribe
Vacancies will be announced as and when they become available.
84000 depends almost entirely on the spirit of volunteerism of dedicated supporters like you. Volunteers help us with a range of ongoing duties as well as event-specific tasks, and each volunteer position or role may have specific skill requirements.
If you are interested in offering your time or skills as a volunteer, we ask that you fill in the online volunteer form.
Sūtra Resoundings have become a signature activity of 84000. We organize global sūtra resoundings on significant days in the Buddhist calendar, and we encourage you to organize your own Resoundings at home, or with your communities.
More information on how to host a Resounding for others, or for glimpses of past Resounding events, please visit our Resounding page.
Get creative! We have friends and supporters that have done everything from sharing a new sūtra announcement or quarterly newsletter with their networks; to donating the proceeds from independently organized events such as film screenings; and even those who have run for a cause in community races, thereby sharing our name with new audiences.
84000 does not partake in the organizing of third-party fundraising events; and when anyone is claiming to be raising money on behalf of 84000, please be aware that these are independently-organized events and initiatives, in which individuals who kindly wish to contribute and are doing so independently, of their own volition, and with or without our knowledge. If you have any questions, please contact: info@84000.co for more information.