Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po)
by George N. Roerich | 1949 | 382,646 words | ISBN-10: 8120804716 | ISBN-13: 9788120804715
This page relates ‘Sonam Gyatso (v): Knowledge through reflection’ of the Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po)—An important historical book from the 15th century dealing with Tibetan Buddhism and details the spiritual doctrine and lineages of religious teachers in Tibet. This chapter belongs to Book 10 (The Kalacakra).
Chapter 29 - Sonam Gyatso (v): Knowledge through reflection
The Fifth (chapter): the opening of the gates of knowledge caused by reflection. During his previous extensive studies, he examined and investigated (the books) in respect of words and their meanings, and did not satisfy himself with the mere hearing (of their exposition). He put questions to his Teacher, put in order (the Teacher’s replies) and conducted debates with all those who were considered to be scholars. Thus he mastered the innermost meaning of all sacred texts.
Further, he used to spend his time in seclusion at rtses thang bsam gling, pho brang 'um bu bla mkhar, rgyal bzangs, bsam yas 'chims phu, khrims khang gling, brag lha klu phug, and other places. He studied all the sacred texts contained in the bka’ 'gyur and elsewhere, and acquired a deep understanding of the essence of the meaning of each word in these texts.
While residing at dpal rtses thang and las stod byang, (he read) twice the bstan 'gyur, the Collection of Works (bka’ 'bum) by bu ston, the de nyid 'dus pa,[1] and other texts, all that was to be found in the Tibetan language. In short, wherever he went, he used to read all available sacred texts, large or short. Everyday he used to expand the ocean of his Mind, completely filled with the games of knowledge. He became a great scholar similar to the king of precious gems, fulfilling the desires of all living beings, headed by those who possessed a strong wish for emancipation.