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In the Buddhist Tibetan tradition, the Kangyur and Tengyur are collections of sacred texts and commentaries that are considered authoritative sources of Buddhist teachings and philosophy.

The principal collection of 266 sūtras, varied in length, subject, interlocutors, and origins (Toh 94–359).

A group of thirteen sūtras, translated into Tibetan in the 14th century, that have closely matching equivalents in the Pali Canon. They represent the last group of sūtras added to the Kangyur, distinct for their connection to the Theravāda tradition.

The Heap of Jewels is a compilation of forty-nine sūtras. Present in both the Tibetan Kangyur and Chinese Tripiṭaka, it covers a wide range of subjects with diverse origins.

The Compendium of Dhāraṇīs containing 250 texts classified as dhāraṇīs.

Fifteen texts classified as aspiration and dedication prayers to conclude the Compendium of Dhāraṇīs.

The Unexcelled Yoga tantras, classified as the highest class of tantra within the Sarma traditions, are divided into three groups—non-dual, mother, and father tantras—with mother tantras emphasizing wisdom, father tantras emphasizing skillful means, and non-dual tantras emphasizing the union of wisdom and means, though the classification of these tantras is not universally agreed upon.

Some notes on the Kangyur translation project from Peter Skilling, March of 2009.

An introduction to the Kangyur and Tengyur.

Some tables and analysis of Kangyur and Tengyur collections.

A mounded or circular structure usually containing relics of the Buddha or the masters of the past. It is considered to be a sacred object representing the awakened mind of a buddha, but the symbolism of the stūpa is complex, and its design varies throughout the Buddhist world.

A common name in the canonical literature, which may refer to a number of the Buddha's disciples.

Khotan, historically an important oasis kingdom on the southern Silk Route in China’s Xinjiang province, which played a key role in the transmission of Buddhism to China, and experienced cultural and religious shifts due to trade, invasions, and evolving political powers, eventually fading by the 12th century as Islamic and Mongol influences rose.

The “Great Discourses,” a collection of texts from the Āgama literature of the Sarvāstivādin and Mūlasarvāstivādin Vinaya.

One of the thirty-two signs of a great being. In its simplest form it is that the head has a heightened or pointed shape (like a turban). More elaborately it refers to a dome-shaped extension of the top of the head, or even to an invisible extension of immense height.

Veṇuvana, donated by King Bimbisāra as the first land offering to the Buddha for his monastic community, became a significant location for early Buddhist teachings, with Kalandakanivāpa being a specific area within it.

Situ Paṇchen Chökyi Jungné’s comprehensive historical and descriptive catalog, detailing the scriptures’ history, translation, compilation, and indexing, with the last section dedicated to explaining the publication's significance and a concluding verse dedication.

The Vimalaprabhā, a commentary on the Kālacakratantra by King Puṇḍarīka, included in its own section in the Degé Kangyur, despite being a treatise rather than Buddha-word.

The Tibetan Buddhist tradition classifies the discourses (sūtra, mdo) delivered by Śākyamuni Buddha in terms of the three turnings of the doctrinal wheel, promulgated at different places and times in the course of his life.

The Yoga tantras, the highest of the outer tantras, focus on internal meditative practices combining the skillful means of deity visualization with the wisdom of nonconceptual awareness.

Tibetan translations of scriptures authored by the renowned Indian Buddhist masters.

A long sūtra consisting of 45 chapters, many of which are independent works, classified by Tibetan editors as belonging to the Buddha’s third turning of the wheel of Dharma.

The principal tantra collection of the Kangyur, consisting of 468 canonical tantras mainly from the “later spread” of Vajrayāna to Tibet, is organized into four levels of tantra and concluding dedication prayers, studied and practiced primarily by the New Schools.

The concluding section of the Tantra Collection consisting of 19 texts used for dedication prayers and expressions of auspiciousness.

The Action class tantras, the lowest of the the three classes of outer tantra, focusing on external worship and ritual aimed at achieving worldly powers. They are classified into six deity families.

The Conduct class tantras, intermediate between Yoga and Action tantras, emphasizing both ritual and meditative practices.

The main body of the Buddha’s discourses, ranging from lengthy and detailed presentations of doctrine to brief summaries of particular points.

The collection of dhāraṇī in two subdivisions.

We work on the research and translation of texts for years and spend hundreds of hours developing the technology to transform translations of individual texts into a dynamic and interactive collection, freely available for all. Publishing the texts from the Tengyur represents not only the culmination of years of work by many members of our translation team, but a significant milestone for the organization.