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The Treasury of Knowledge

About the Treasury of Knowledge, the Sheja Kun La Khyabpé Dzö

The ten volumes that make up the Treasury of Knowledge were first published in Tibetan in 1875. Jamgon Kongtrul had been asked to write something on the three levels of Buddhist vows but instead the project expanded way beyond that scope. Kongtrul said that he wanted to produce something that "should be more comprehensive in scope, something that would be of use to people who had not studied much.” In practice he used the work as a prerequisite for those entering into the three year retreat to have a basis of study before the intensive practice retreat.

In 1986 Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche began floating the idea of translating the Treasury into English. While it took over over twenty-five years to complete, his vision was fulfilled and we can all be grateful for access to this extraordinary work.

Over the ten volumes, the entire Buddhist path is presented from a tantric point of view.

When it was published, The Treasury of Knowledge was the largest single work by a Tibetan author translated into English. In Tibetan religious literature, its ten books stand out as a unique masterpiece embodying the entire range of Buddhist teachings as they were preserved in Tibet. In his monumental work, Jamgön Kongtrul presents an encyclopedic account of the major lines of thought and practice that comprise Tibetan Buddhism.

The Treasury of Knowledge: Book I; Myriad Worlds, Jamgön Kongtrul (trans. Kalu Rinpoche Translation Group)
The Treasury of Knowledge: Books II, III, and IV; Buddhism’s Journey to Tibet, Jamgön Kongtrul (trans. Ngawang Zangpo)
The Treasury of Knowledge: Book VI, Parts 1 and 2; Indo-Tibetan Classical Learning and Buddhist Phenomenology, Jamgön Kongtrul (trans. Gyurme Dorje)
The Treasury of Knowledge: Book VI, Part 3; Frameworks of Buddhist Philosophy, Jamgön Kongtrul (trans. Elizabeth M. Callahan)
The Treasury of Knowledge: Book V; Buddhist Ethics, Jamgön Kongtrul (trans. Kalu Rinpoche Translation Group)
The Treasury of Knowledge: Book VI, Part 4; Systems of Buddhist Tantra, Jamgön Kongtrul (trans. Elio Guarisco and Ingrid McLeod)
The Treasury of Knowledge: Books VII and VIII, Parts 1 and 2; Foundations of Buddhist Study and Practice, Jamgön Kongtrul (trans. Richard Barron)
The Treasury of Knowledge: Book VIII, Part 3; The Elements of Tantric Practice, Jamgön Kongtrul (trans. Elio Guarisco and Ingrid McLeod)
The Treasury of Knowledge: Book VIII, Part 4; Esoteric Instructions, Jamgön Kongtrul (trans. Sarah Harding)
The Treasury of Knowledge: Books IX and X; Journey and Goal, Jamgön Kongtrul (trans. Richard Barron)