Types of Tibetan Textual Commentaries and Interpretations

General
1

Various Types of Tibetan Textual Commentaries and Interpretations

Here is a comprehensive list of various types of reference resources found in the Buddhist and Tibetan literature. This list on BDRC can be useful as reference, although it mixes up topics and genres.

1. Detailed Annotations and Word-by-Word Analysis

Word Commentary (ཚིག་འགྲེལ། - Tsik Drel)

Explanations that focus primarily on the meaning of individual words rather than the general content or critical analysis, providing an word-by-word explanation of the root text.

Examples:

  • Word Commentary on “Introduction to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life” - Nectar Drops of Manjushri Guru’s Oral Instructions [by Khenpo Kunpal] - WA8LS20845

  • Commentary on “Meaningful Vision of Advice” Clarifying Essential Points [by Gungtang Tenpai Dronme] - MW22334_861C56

  • Word Commentary on the Condensed Meaning of the Graduated Path to Enlightenment: Gateway for the Intelligent [by Lobzang Damcho Gyatso] - MW13528_A63D50

Letter Commentary (འབྲུ་འགྲེལ། - Dru Drel)

Explanations that elaborate on each individual syllable or letter of the text.

Examples:

  • Letter Commentary on the Ten Coarse Trainings for Novice Monks [by Kunga Zangpo] - MW11577_F31D81

  • Letter Commentary on the Aspiration Prayer of Glorious Guhyasamaja: Opening the Door to Ripening and Liberation [by Drakri Damtsik Dorje] - MW6457_F29F6C

  • Letter Commentary on the Three Vows [by Jigdral Yeshe Dorje] - MW20869_C42C91

Annotations (མཆན་འགྲེལ། - Chen Drel)

Small notes written to clarify difficult points in a text, making them more understandable.

Examples:

  • Annotations on “Snake Poison-Destroying Peacock Mind Training” [by Lobzang Tamdrin] - MW13536_F28702

  • Annotations on Verses of Advice [by Gorampa Sonam Senge] - MW11818_0F7AE6

  • Annotations on “Letter to a Friend”: Garland of White Lotus [by Ju Mipham Gelek Gyatso] - MW5062_171D2E

2. Focused Commentaries on Specific Points

Difficult Points Commentary (དཀའ་འགྲེལ། - Ka Drel)

Commentaries that focus specifically on difficult or important points rather than providing sequential explanation of the entire text.

Examples:

  • Commentary on Difficult Points of “The Essence of Vajra Words” [by Pandita Naropa] - MW23703_1186

  • Commentary on Difficult Points of “The Mirror of Poetics”: Melody Delighting Sarasvati [by Fifth Dalai Lama Ngawang Lobzang Gyatso] - W4CZ355754

  • Commentary on Difficult Points of “Valid Cognition”: Clear Understanding of the Intention [by Panchen Sonam Drakpa] - W1KG16158

Critical Analysis (མཐའ་དཔྱོད། - Ta Chö)

Treatises that primarily analyze difficult points of texts through reasoning and logical argument.

Examples:

  • Critical Analysis of the Twenty Types of Sangha [by Setshang Ngawang Tashi] - W8147

  • Critical Analysis of the Middle Way: Ocean of Reasoning [by Khedrub Tenpa Dargyay] - W8LS77385

  • Critical Analysis Differentiating Definitive and Interpretive Teachings [by Jamyang Zhepa Ngawang Tsondru] - W1NLM1194

Dispelling Doubts (དོགས་སློང་། - Dok Long)

Works that address doubts, uncertainties, and questions regarding a text’s meaning or authenticity.

Examples:

  • Dispelling Doubts on Vaibhashika Tenets: Bringing Joy to the Clear-Minded [by Jamyang Tenpa Nyima] - MW8LS16860_72ECEC

  • Dispelling Doubts about All-Ground Consciousness: Advancing the Path of Reasoning for Beginners [by Khalka Ngawang Palden] - MW5926_2F6E3F

  • The Diamond Play of Scripture and Reasoning to Resolve Doubts on Difficult Points of the Root Tantra “Secret Essence” [by Dharmasri] - MW9140_E2549C

3. Experiential Commentaries

Experience Guide (ཉམས་ཁྲིད། - Nyam Tri)

Instructions based on one’s own experiences or visions shared with others.

Examples:

  • Experience Guide to the Graduated Path to Liberation: Manual of Liberation [by Lobzang Palden Tenzin Yargye] - MW14376_84A9B7

  • Unique Experience Guide to the First Stage of Glorious Vajrabhairava: Source of All Common Accomplishments [by Sumpa Yeshe Paljor] - MW29227_5203D0

  • Experience Guide to Mahamudra: Distinguishing Renunciation and Realization in the Dakpo Tradition [by Karmapa Mikyo Dorje] - MW1KG4336_17C41D

Direct Experience Guide (མྱོང་ཁྲིད། - Nyong Tri)

Detailed teaching methods where the master explains text based on personal experience, leaving nothing unexplained.

Examples:

  • Direct Experience Guide to the Graduated Path: Entry Point for Fortunate Liberation-Seekers [by Kalsang Tubten Jigme Tenpa Gyaltsen] - MW1NLM5770_O1NLM5770_007

  • Notes on the Profound Experience Guide to Guru Yoga, Adorned with Oral Instructions [by Lobzang Phuntsok] - MW1NLM7_O1NLM7_003

  • Direct Experience Guide to the Swift Path to Omniscience [by Panchen Palden Yeshe] - MW1KG9800_8DD000

Illustrated Guide (དམར་ཁྲིད། - Mar Tri)

Instructions given using real examples or illustrations.

Examples:

  • Illustrated Guide to the Graduated Path: The Path of Bliss [by Panchen Lobzang Chokyi Gyaltsen] - W9810

  • The Five Stages Complete on the Seat [by Je Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa] - MW22274_A93549

  • Illustrated Guide to the Graduated Path: Swift Path to Omniscience [by Panchen Lobzang Yeshe] - MW1174_5CAF99

4. Structured Practice Guides

Meditation Sequence (སྒོམ་རིམ། - Gom Rim)

Step-by-step methods for meditation practice.

Examples:

  • Stages of Meditation on Definitive Mahamudra: Good Explanation Moonlight Rays [by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal] - MW00JW501203_C94175

  • Stages of Meditation on Madhyamakavatara [by Rongton Sheja Kunrik] - MW28942_E7C50C

  • Stages of Meditation on Bodhicharyavatara [by Khenpo Kunpal] - W3CN22828

Meditation Focus (དམིགས་རིམ། - Mik Rim)

The sequence of mental objects or focus points during meditation.

Examples:

  • Meditation Focus for Vajrasattva Practice: Pure White Moonbeams Dispelling the Heat of Negative Actions [by Yongzin Yeshe Gyaltsen] - MW1022_755CDE

  • Meditation Focus for Chakrasamvara Body Mandala [by Changkya Ngawang Choden] - MW1KG1321_797038

  • Meditation Focus for “Giving and Taking” [by Lobzang Palden Tenzin Yargye] - MW14376_4AE794

Meditation Object (དམིགས་གནད། - Mik Ne)

The key points of what to focus on during a practice.

Examples:

  • Key Points of Meditation for the Six Yogas of Naropa [by Konchok Dondrub Chowang] - MW23173_DB5A2B

  • The Essential Points of Meditation for Guru Yoga and Long Life Practice Based on Amitayus [by Damtsik Dorje] - MW6457_A39A23

  • Clear Essential Points of Recitation: Precious Jewel for Liberation-Seekers - MW23757_9A752F

Meditation Topic (སྒོམ་དོན། - Gom Dön)

The meaning or topic that one repeatedly familiarizes the mind with during meditation.

Example:

  • Clarifying the Meditation Topics of the Glorious Dakini Oral Transmission: The Definitive Abode of Perfect Bliss in All Aspects [by Jampal Pawo] - W27488

5. Teaching and Practice Guides

Instruction Manual (ཁྲིད་ཡིག - Tri Yik)

Texts designed specifically for teaching or instructional purposes.

Examples:

  • Instruction Manual for Vajrasattva Mind Practice: Clear Illumination [by Minling Lochen Dharmasri] - MW1PD96185_0BE763

  • Instruction Manual for Madhyamaka View [by Je Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa] - MW22274_478378

  • Instruction Manual for the Five Stages of Glorious Chakrasamvara [by Jetsun Taranatha] - MW22276_5EF939

Practice Implementation (ཉམས་ལེན། - Nyam Len)

Texts explaining how to actually implement teachings in practice.

Examples:

  • Practice Implementation of the Six Perfections [by Thangtong Gyalpo] - MW23919_AD587A

  • Practice Implementation of the “Sutra Requested by Prince Ratna Chandra”: Spontaneous Accomplishment of the Two Aims [by Yangchen Drubpai Dorje] - MW22334_20C278

  • Essential Practical Tradition of the Graduated Path to Enlightenment [by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo] - MW21807_ABB29A

Recitation Method (འདོན་ཐབས། - Dön Tab)

Methods for how to recite liturgies or texts.

Examples:

  • Method for Reciting the Three Heaps Sutra [by Sakya Pandita] - MW00EGS1017151_212465

  • Two Methods for Reciting the Names of Manjushri [by Gungtang Tenpai Dronme] - MW22185_31555B

  • Method for Reciting the Text “Engaging in the Bodhisattva’s Conduct”: Stream of Blessings [by Damtsik Dorje] - MW6457_8BACC9

6. General Commentaries

Commentary (འགྲེལ་པ། - Drel Pa)

Texts that clarify difficult points in philosophical works, making them easier to understand.

Examples:

  • Clear Meaning Commentary on “Letter to a Friend” [by Rendawa Zhonu Lodro] - MW3CN13006_0D68FA

  • Commentary on “Investigation of Objects” [by Master Dignaga] - MW23702_3707

  • Commentary on Tara [by Jetsun Taranatha] - MW22277_C18AA1

Meaning Commentary (དོན་འགྲེལ། - Dön Drel)

Explanations that focus on the general meaning rather than word-by-word explanation, capturing the essential points.

Examples:

  • Meaning Commentary on “The Song of the Queen of Spring”: Hundreds of Summer Sounds [by Gungtang Tenpai Dronme] - bdr:MW22112_80C6F7](BUDA - Buddhist Digital Archives))

  • Meaning Commentary on the “Confession of Bodhisattva Downfalls”: Sunrays Dispelling the Darkness of Negativity [by Tenpa Nyima] - MW6205_CD546A/

  • Meaning Commentary on the Praise of Maitreya “Brahma’s Crown”: Clear Explanation of Words and Meanings [by Purchok Ngawang Jampa] - MW1229_D7435D/

Extensive Commentary (རྒྱ་ཆེར་འགྲེལ་པ། - Gyacher Drelpa)

Comprehensive commentaries that explain the entire text in detail, including all main and subsidiary points.

Examples:

  • Extensive Commentary on “The Ten Realities” [by Master Sahajavaira] - MW23702_1103

  • Extensive Commentary on “Compendium of Abhidharma”: Ocean of Good Explanations [by Rendawa Zhonu Lodro] - W1KG25132

  • Extensive Commentary on the Praise of Vidyarajni: Illumination of the Three Vajras [by Gungtang Tenpai Dronme] - MW22112_FEDC7E

Grand Commentary (འགྲེལ་ཆེན། - Drel Chen)

Major commentaries that provide extensive and detailed explanations of their subject matter.

Examples:

  • Grand Commentary on the Five Stages: Intention of the Great Vajradhara [by Jetsun Taranatha] - MW22277_618512

  • Grand Commentary on “The Wheel Showing How the Primordial Buddha Traverses Four Times in Sentient and Non-sentient Worlds” [by Karmapa Mikyo Dorje] - MW8039_3FB158

  • Grand Commentary on Sarvavid [Vairocana] - W1NLM1078

Intention Commentary (དགོངས་འགྲེལ། - Gong Drel)

Commentaries that interpret the intended meaning of a philosophical work, elucidating the original author’s intention.

Examples:

  • Moonbeams: Interpretation of the Intention of the Five Stages [by Abhayakaragupta] - MW23703_1831

  • Treasury of Scripture and Reasoning: Interpretation of the Intention of the Three Principal Paths [by Fifth Dalai Lama Ngawang Lobzang Gyatso] - MW294_2D5288

  • Clear Lamp: Interpretation of the Intention of the Sutra on Recollecting the Three Jewels [by Konchok Jigme Wangpo] - MW2122_B1EFF9

7. Condensed Formats

Condensed Meaning (བསྡུས་དོན། - Dü Dön)

Texts that summarize the essential points of a larger work.

Examples:

  • Condensed Meaning of the Mahayana Uttaratantra [by Karma Rangjung Dorje] - MW3PD1288_FB1970

  • Condensed Meaning of the Madhyamakavatara [by Gyaltsab Darma Rinchen] - MW23692_39BFD4

  • Condensed Meaning of “Fifty Verses on the Guru” [by Drogon Chogyal Phagpa] - MW00EGS1017151_0BE00C

Condensed Explanation (བསྡུས་འགྲེལ། - Dü Drel)

Brief commentaries that explain the main points of a text without elaborating on every detail.

Examples:

  • Condensed Explanation of the Hevajra Tantra [by Karma Zhenpen Wangpo] - MW3CN17918_30A7A5

  • Condensed Explanation of the Root Tantra “Lotus Net”: The Lotus Net [by Jigdral Yeshe Dorje] - MW20869_C53FE0

  • Condensed Explanation of Bodhisattva Advice [by Rigdzin Gargyi Wangchuk] - MW19884_E9975B

Summarized Meaning (དོན་བསྡུས། - Dön Dü)

Condensed versions that present only the essential meaning.

Examples:

  • Summarized Meaning of “Drops of Reasoning” [by Master Jinamitra] - MW23703_4233

  • Summarized Meaning of the Sutra “Pure Golden Light” [by Karma Chakme] - MW22933_8BB604

  • Summarized Meaning of Prajnaparamita: The Excellent Path of the Mahayana [by Tubten Chökyi Langpo] - MW21825_DC461F

8. Other Specialized Formats

Outline (ས་བཅད། - Sa Che)

The structural outline or organizational scheme of a text or lecture.

Examples:

  • Outline of the Small Graduated Path to Enlightenment [by Je Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa] - MW635_24C27C

  • Outline of the Madhyamakavatara [by Konchok Tenpai Dronme] - MW1KG9408_66104F

  • Outline of the Brief Explanation of Empowerment [by Buton Rinchen Drub] - MW22106_07F885

Story Commentary (སྒྲུང་འགྲེལ། - Drung Drel)

Commentaries that analyze and explain stories.

Examples:

  • Commentary on Mountain Dharma Stories [by Yangonpa Gyaltsen Pal] - MW00JW501203_E9D321

  • Commentary on the Good Path of the Bodhisattva Noble Ones: Moonbeams [by Sonam Lhundrub] - MW00CHZ0103340_2D241E

  • Moonbeams: Story Commentary on the Path of the Noble Ones from “Clear Realization of the Buddha’s Intent” [by Sonam Lhundrub] - MW00KG01660_546272

Question and Answer (དྲིས་ལན། - Dri Len)

Texts in question and answer format.

Examples:

  • String of Jewels: Questions and Answers on the Greater and Lesser Graduated Path [by Jamyang Zhepa Dorje] - MW21503_E74B08

  • Questions and Answers on Kalachakra [by Kedrub Je] - MW22111_DA493A

  • Sunlight: Questions and Answers on the Three Vows [by Sonam Chödrub] - MW22389_1FE8E9

Response to Criticisms (བརྒལ་ལན། - Gal Len)

Responses to criticisms or objections made about one’s philosophical position.

Examples:

  • Clear Definitive Response to Objections on “Dispelling Confusion” [by Panchen Shakya Chokden] - MW23200_FC9FAF

  • Lamp Further Illuminating Profound Meaning: Response to Objections on Madhyamakavatara [by Panchen Sonam Drakpa] - MW23828_28A57B

  • Sunlight: Response to Objections on the Wisdom Chapter of Bodhicharyavatara [by Ju Mipham Gelek Gyatso] - W4998

9. Supporting and Supplementary Works

Notes (ཟིན་བྲིས། - Zin Dri)

Notes written to record what one has seen or heard.

Examples:

  • Notes on the Completion Stage “Spring Drop” [by Je Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa] - MW635_B2D6A9

  • Notes on the Seven Points of Mind Training [by Lobzang Tenzin Palden Yargye] - MW14376_CB7218

  • Notes on the Small Graduated Path [by Keutsang Jamyang Monlam] - W5833

Memory Aid (བརྗེད་བྱང་། - Je Chang)

Notes written to remember tasks or points so they won’t be forgotten.

Examples:

  • Memory Aid for Categories of Dharma [by Kawa Paltsek] - MW23703_4362

  • Great Memory Aid on Valid Cognition [by Gyaltsab Darma Rinchen] - MW22110_69A8E9

  • Nectar from the Mouth of Akshobhya: Memory Aid for the Illustrated Guide to the Five Stages of the Completion Stage of Guhyasamaja [by Akhu Sherab Gyatso] - MW21505_C4CEE1

Framework (ཁོག་དབུབ། - Khok Ub)

The basic structure or framework of a text.

Examples:

  • Framework for Two Aspects of Guru Mind Practice [by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye] - MW23723_C5EAD1

  • Condensed Framework of “The Single Intention Teaching” [by Kunga Rinchen] - MW00JW501203_B1C360

  • Ocean of Benefit and Happiness: Framework for the Great Sadhana of the Supreme Noble Akasharaja [by Jigdral Yeshe Dorje] - MW20869_0B64A3

Supplement (ལྷན་ཐབས། - Lhen Thab)

Additional or supplementary material.

Examples:

  • Supplement to the Tantra of Oral Instructions [by Desi Sangye Gyatso] - W1NLM584

  • Supplement to the Guhyasamaja Sadhana [by Je Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa] - MW29193_0E8C99

  • Supplement to Mind Training: Clear Instructions [by Chennga Lodro Gyaltsen] - MW447_03F130

Further Commentary (ཡང་འགྲེལ། - Yang Drel)

A commentary on another commentary.

Examples:

  • Further Commentary on Annotations to “Illuminating Lamp” - Extensive Commentary on Guhyasamaja [by Je Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa] - W4CZ57645

  • Lamp Illuminating Profound Meaning: Further Commentary on the Essence of the Graduated Path of Ati [by Ngawang Tenzin Norbu] - MW29036_8B4C15

  • Brief Responses to Questions from Gyanak Tulku [by Gyanak Tulku] - MW2PD17514_C22356

10. Specialized Notation

Melody Notation (དབྱངས་ཡིག - Yang Yik)

Notation symbols indicating how liturgical texts should be chanted or sung.

Examples:

  • Melody Notation for Guardian Practice that Brings Accomplishments: Gandharva’s String Instrument [by Drukchen Pema Karpo] - MW10736_5C5A5C

  • Melody Notation for the Ritual of the Seven Combined Mind Treasures of the Guru [by Jigdral Yeshe Dorje] - MW20869_36A77D

  • Majestic Sound of the Four-Faced One: Melody Notation for the Fulfillment Offering to Glorious Four-Faced Mahakala [by Trijang Lobzang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso] - MW14592_3B2F78

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