Thirteen Great Scriptures

Thirteen classical Indian Buddhist Texts. Since the early 20th century they they have become the core sutra curriculum of the traditional monastic education in the Nyingma and Sakya lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. They were made famous through the efforts of the renowned Khenpo Shenga who composed a series of annotated commentaries on these thirteen great scriptures (gzhung chen bcu gsum) using strictly Indian materials. The thirteen texts are:

1) Pratimokshasutra by Buddha Shakyamuni

2) Vinayasutra by Gunaprabha

3) Abdhdharmasamuccaya by Asanga

4) Abhidharmakosa by Vasubandhu

5) Mulamadhyamakakarika by Nagarjuna

6) Madhyamakavatara by Candrakirti

7) Catuhasatakashastra by Aryadeva

8) Bodhisattvacaryavatara by Santideva

9) Abhisamayalamkara by Asanga

10) Mahayanasutralamkara by Asanga

11) Madhyantavibhanga by Asanga

12) Dharmadharmatavibhanga by Asanga

13) Mahayanottaratantra by Asanga

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• gzhung chen bcu gsum gyi mchan ’grel has a detailed description.