DHARMA SERVICE
Preserving Sacred Texts
At SINI, we preserve the profound wisdom of Tibetan Buddhism through comprehensive preservation efforts that protect and maintain the sacred texts, cultural heritage, and linguistic traditions for future generations.
Our preservation work represents a sacred commitment to maintaining the unbroken continuity of Buddhist wisdom, ensuring that the precious teachings of Tibetan Buddhism remain vibrant and available for the benefit of all sentient beings, both now and for generations to come.
The Great Transmission is the story of one Tibetan refugee lama and his efforts to preserve the sacred texts of his tradition. But more than that, it is the story of the epic journey of a precious inheritance of human knowledge from its origins in Ancient India to the present.
LANDMARK PROJECT
The Kangyur Karchag
Sacred Texts, Modern Access: Tibetan Scholars Complete Groundbreaking Buddhist Canon Catalog
The Kangyur Karchag encyclopedia presented to H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama, with Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche and Tsering Palmo Gellek.
After six years of intensive scholarship, a team of Tibetan Buddhist scholars has completed the most comprehensive and accessible catalog of the Kangyur, the Tibetan Buddhist canon containing the words of the Buddha.
On February 5th, the editorial board of the Kangyur Karchag gathered under the Bodhi Tree in Bodhgaya, India to offer copies of an 11-volume encyclopedia of the Buddha’s teachings and a single stand-alone volume to the presiding lamas of the Nyingma Monlam Chenmo, World Peace Ceremony. Working tirelessly over the past six years, a team of Khenpos, Geshes, and scholars from the Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu, and Gelug traditions summarized the entire contents of the Kangyur.
This grand, non-sectarian project aims to provide a more systematic presentation of the scriptural treasures contained within the Kangyur. By summarizing, clarifying, and connecting the streams of knowledge passed down from the Buddha in the form of a reader-friendly encyclopedia, the mission has been to offer accessibility and further interest in the general study and contemplation of the Buddha’s words.
In 2018, Tarthang Rinpoche requested the khenpos and students at SINI to start a close reading of the Kangyur in preparation for this major research and publication project. In early 2019, SINI editors traveled throughout India’s exile communities to meet masters of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism and seek their blessings, guidance, and support.
In general, for the Dharma to survive, its roots must be nourished through a vast approach to understanding its source: the words of the Buddha. The formation of this encyclopedia provides a gateway into the study of the Kangyur. The project has already proven in its research process to be an excellent opportunity for wide-scale collaboration.
Translations into English are underway with SINI’s EDP Fellows and students.
“The summaries of the Kangyur reveal an exceptional array of circumstances and a long line of extraordinary masters dedicated to ensuring the longevity of the light of knowledge these texts radiate.”
A LEGACY OF PRESERVATION
The Yeshe De Project
The creation of the Kangyur Karchag emerges from Tarthang Rinpoche’s sincere and deep aspiration to make the vast collection of the Buddha’s teachings more appreciated and accessible, especially to the lay reader. It is the result of generations of kindness and care.
Tarthang Rinpoche arrived in India in 1958, following his revered master Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro into exile. In 1962, His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche asked Tarthang Rinpoche to teach at Sanskrit University in Varanasi. Rinpoche quickly established one of Tibet’s first printing houses in exile, Dharma Mudranalaya, which later would be re-established in the USA as Dharma Publishing and Yeshe De.
For over 55 years, Tarthang Rinpoche has supported the production and distribution of millions of sacred Dharma texts, including over 14,000 sets of historically important versions of the Kangyur. Distributed over the years at the annual Nyingma Monlam Chenmo at Bodhgaya, these sacred texts have been carried away by devoted Buddhist pilgrims. Returning home by bus, train, horse, and yak, book-by-book, more than 3,000 altars and libraries have been created throughout the Himalayas and Tibet, heralding the largest Buddhist text preservation and distribution in history.
THE LATEST NEWS
Sharing the Merit
Our comprehensive news section transforms recent happenings and community developments into thoughtful long-form writing, providing deeper context on our ongoing dharma preservation and transmission work. From program announcements and pilgrimage updates to scholarly achievements and collaborative initiatives, we document the living evolution of our mission through detailed narratives. To stay current with our latest developments, program launches, and community milestones, visit our regularly updated news page for the full stories behind our continuing efforts to build bridges of goodness.
Empower Global Dharma Teachers
Your Support Opens Doors to Worldwide Service
Your donation supports monastics in developing English skills to share Buddhist teachings globally, helping transform learned Khenpos and Lopons into skilled translators, workshop leaders, and international teachers equipped to guide practitioners worldwide. Each contribution enables these dedicated monastics to translate sacred texts, lead workshops, and bridge ancient wisdom with modern communication, ensuring profound Buddhist teachings reach seekers everywhere.
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