མདོ་སྡེ། | Glossary of Terms

First of the twelve branches of the scriptures.

One of the twelve branches of Buddhist scriptures.

One of the twelve branches of Buddhist scriptures.

One of the “twelve branches of excellent speech.”

Usually referring to a discourse by the Buddha; sometimes to just a few sentences by the Buddha; or also, when not referring to the words of the Buddha, any concise doctrinal statement.

Literally meaning “a thread,” this was an ancient term for teachings that were memorized and orally transmitted in an essential form. Therefore it can mean “pithy statements,” “rules,” and “aphorisms.” In Buddhism it refers to the Buddha’s teachings, whatever their length, and in terms of the three divisions of the Buddha’s teachings, it is the category of teachings other than those on the vinaya and abhidharma. It is also used as a category to contrast with the tantra teachings, though a number of important tantras have sūtra in their title. Another very specific meaning is when it is classed as one of the nine or twelve aspects of the Dharma. In that context sūtra means “a teaching given in prose,” and therefore is one aspect of what is generally called a sūtra.

One among the twelve sections of scripture. See also entry on the term “sūtra.“

The term sūtrānta (Pāli suttanta) is a synonym of the word sūtra; it can also designate the genre sūtra as a whole.

The collection of discourses of the Buddha.

Usually refers to a discourse by the Buddha, sometimes to just a few sentences by the Buddha, or sometimes, when not referring to the words of the Buddha, any concise doctrinal statement.

The term "teaching" renders here mdo sde, which usually refers to one of the collections of sūtras in the Kangyur. However, it can also mean the text of a particular sūtra or the teachings or doctrine contained in it‍—which is the case in this text.