Photo: Frank Lee What is the Kangyur? The meaning of “Kangyur”
is “the translated words (of the Buddha)”. It is the entire
collection of texts regarded as buddhavacana or “Buddha-word”,
translated into Tibetan. 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. What is the Tengyur?
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. What are the source languages of the Kangyur and
Tengyur? Most of the texts were translated from Sanskrit and a
few from other Indic languages; there are also texts that were
translated from Chinese. Are