Sga-ston's Works, Handlist

Sga-ston Titles Handlist

Handout for Dan Martin

Hamburg 2016

Abbreviations:  

CLTWA = Catalogue of the Library of Tibetan Works & Archives (Gangchen Kyishong).

CNCB = A Catalogue of the New Collection of Bonpo Katen Texts, ed., Samten G. Karmay & Yasuhiko Nagano, National Museum of Ethnography (Osaka 2001).

CRBT = Collection of Rare Bonpo Texts (Bon gyi dpe dkon phyogs bsgrigs), ed. by Dangsong Namgyal, Vajra Publications (Kathmandu 2009).

YTKC = G.yung-drung-tshul-khrims-dbang-drag, Rgyal ba'i bka' dang bka' rten rmad 'byung dgos 'dod bzhin gter gyi bang mdzod la dkar chags blo'i tha ram 'grol byed 'phrul gyi lde mig go, Palace of National Minorities (Beijing, 1995).  Composed during the years 1876-1880.

YTZB3 = Ya thog zhang bod khyad nor dpe tshogs series no. 3, Lo rgyus skor:  Bstan pa'i shan 'byed phrul gyi me long rab gsal sgron me sogs, Si khron dpe tshogs pa (Chengdu 2012).

I've categorized the works of Sga-ston [~Sga-rigs Ston-pa] Tshul-khrims-rgyal-mtshan (ca. 14th century) under the headings of:   A. Scripture.  B. History.  C. Cosmology.  D. Vehicles & Paths.  E. Dhāraṇīs.

A. Scripture

1. Bstan pa bon gyi klad don (and autocommentary).  

— The 16-folio text in the photocopy is followed by a 5-folio text.  The latter, bearing the title Bstan pa bon gyi klad don, is in fact the root text on which the 16-folio text is the autocommentary (the logical order of the two texts was switched around in the photocopying, I suppose).  Author's name provided in colophon as follows:  Sga rig[s] Ston pa Tshul khrims rgyal mtshan. There is also the information that it was copied from Spa'i bla dpe.  YTKC, p. 581:  "Bstan pa thams cad kyi glad don brjod pa bon kyi rnam dbye Sga ston Tshul khrims rgyal mtshan can."

B. History

2. Bstan pa'i shan 'byed 'phrul gyi me long rab gsal sgron me.

— Published in CRBT, pp. 1-62. In 4 chapters.  In the preface, the editor notes that in this work the accounts of Khri-srong and of Dri-gum are somewhat confounded (p. x).    The author's name is given in the colophon as: Gshen-gyi Btsun-pa Tshul-khrims-rgyal-mtshan.  This colophon also says that it was copied from a copy that belonged to Skal-bzang-nyi-ma-tog-gi-rgyal-mtshan. This latter is identifiable as the abbot of G.yung-drung-gling Monastery who ordained Shar-rdza. His birthdate is 1841. This text includes besides a fairly substantial history of Bon, some discussion of corrupt versions of Bon scriptures and false teachers of Bon.

— Published in YTZB3, pp. 47-95.  This would seem to be by Sga-ston (although here called Gshen-gyi Btsun-pa Tshul-khrims-rgyal-mtshan).  Ms. owner: Ka shul ltag gong sang.

— There is a listing of this text in YTKC, p. 1142: dga' ston tshul khrims rgyal mtshan gyi mdzad pas  /  shan 'byed 'phrul gyi me long.  Here the text is clearly attributed to Sga-ston (despite the slight misspelling Dga'-ston).

3. Gter gyis kha byang.

— Published in CRBT, pp. 63-150.

— Sga-ston Tshul-khrims-rgyal-mtshan, Gter gyi kha byang, contained in: Bon gyi dpe dkon phyogs bsgrigs ["Collection of Rare Bonpo Texts"], ed. by Dangsong Namgyal [Drang-srong-rnam-rgyal], Vajra Publications (Kathmandu 2009), pp. 63-150. 

— The following copied from Tibetan Histories, no. 86:

late 1300’s ?  Sga-ston Tshul-khrims-rgyal-mtshan, Gter gyis kha byang.  A 45-folio manuscript is kept in Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (Dharamsala), Accessions no. 17765 (note that the final folio is damaged and part of the text of the colophon is therefore missing).  An early history of the excavated scriptures (gter-ma) of Bon.  Ref.:  CLTWA II, no. 67.

— YTKC, p. 1062:  shes bya rab 'byed sga ston tshul khrims rgyal mtshan gyi mdzad pas / lung rigs mtha' dag g.yung drung bon gyi lo rgyus / bla khung dar nub dang gter gyi kha byang.

— One edition only of the Gter gyi kha byang has an added comment at the end by Yongs-'dzin Rin-po-che:  sga ston tshul khrims rgyal mtshan gyis mdzad pa'i bstan pa bon gyi klad don zhes pa dang / gter gyi kha byang zhes pa 'di rnams dus rabs snga ba dang / dpe khung 'dzom pa / rtsom pa po'i rnam dpyod yangs pa / dpyad tshul mkhyen pa sogs khyad bon du ma dang ldan pa'i bstan bcos yin pa mthong nas nan gyis dpe rgyun 'phel thabs su brtson khul byas / skyabs rje yongs 'dzin rin po che nas.

C. Cosmology

4. Kun las btus pa srid pa'i mdzod gzhung.

— Published by Sangye Tenzin & Samten Gyaltsen (Kalimpong 1960's), in 57 fols.  9 x 39 cm.  Original price: 6 Indian rupees.  SOAS has a copy of the print version, no. T.B.P. 222786 (Kalimpong print in 29 folios).  The IASWR microfiche no. is SB-692.

— Published in:  Bden pa'i mdzod phugs rnam par 'byed pa'i lde mig, Lnga rig bon gyi snying gter series no. 1, Si khron dpe skrun tshogs pa, Si khron mi rigs dpe skrun khang (Chengdu 2005), pp. 1-35. The text ends with quite a long list of Mdzod commentaries and other works the author made use of in making his anthology, ending with these words (p. 35):  kha ba can gyi shar phyogs kyi 'dab / rgyal mo rong du skyes pa'i sga rigs kyi ston pa tshul khrims rgyal mtshan zhes bya bas btus so. Since this is a kind of anthology of select passages, it might not be regarded as one of his works, although evidently the commentary (no. 5 that follows) and its mchan-notes *are* his composition. 

5. Kun las btus pa srid pa'i mdzod phug gi gzhung 'grel.

— "A Treatise with Autocommentary Presenting the Bonpo Abhidharma," by Sga-ston Tshul-khrims-rgyal-mtshan, published by Tashi Dorji, Tibetan Bonpo Monastic Centre (Dolanji 1974), vol. 1, pp. 1-144.  28 x 36 cm.  Reproduced on basis of a manuscript belonging to the Abbot Sangye Tenzin.

6. Bden pa'i mdzod phugs rnam par 'byed pa'i lde mig.

— Contained in:  Bden pa'i mdzod phugs rnam par 'byed pa'i lde mig, Lnga rig bon gyi snying gter series no. 1, Si khron dpe skrun tshogs pa, Si khron mi rigs dpe skrun khang (Chengdu 2005), 36-295.  Colophon (294-5):  bden pa'i mdzod phugs rnam par 'byed pa'i lde mig ces bya ba / bde bar gshegs pa'i lung la blo'i snang ba rgyas pa'i sga rigs kyi btsun pa tshul khrims rgyal mtshan gyis / 'du gnas bzang po'i ri la brtsams te / sa mtha'i dben gnas dang / ri khrod rnams su legs par sbyar ba'o //  yan lag rgyas bshad rdzogs so // 'di ni mdzod kyi rnam bzhag lan gsum mdzad pa'i phyi ma'o.  It says this is the last of three treatments of the Mdzod that were done (by him).

— Contained in: Kun las btus pa srid pa'i mdzod phug gi gzhung 'grel, Dolanji 1974, pp. 145 636. (Front page title is missing, so the title is provided from colophon p.636.3.) 

D. Vehicles & Paths

7. Sga ston Gzhi lam 'bras bu'i rgyan gyi lung rnams zur du bkol te bkod pa nor bu'i do shal.  Note: I think this should be regarded as an anthology of selections from his work.  

— Contained in Katen, vol. 80, pp. 1-44.  Immediately following is a thematically related text by Rgyal mtshan mchog legs (sometimes appears as a lineage successor of Sga-ston).

8. Theg pa chen po gzhi lam 'bras bu'i rang 'grel gsal byed me long.  In 3 chapters.

— Contained in:  Zhwa dkar g.yung drung bon gyi bstan pa'i 'dus spyi dpal gshen bstan sman ri'i gling gi bshad sgrub slob gnyer 'dus sde'i yig cha [Yig cha material for Study Use in Bonpo Higher Learning Establishments concerning the Esoteric & Exoteric Topics such as Sa lam, Bden gnyis, etc.], by various authors, "reproduced from copies of manuscripts and blockprints from Dolpo and Tibet," Khedup Gyatso, Bonpo Monastic Centre (Dolanji 1985), pp. 27-233.

— Colophon (232.6):  gzhi lam 'bras bu'i gsal byed kyi me long zhes bya ba / gangs chen gyi shar mtha' rgyal mo rong zhes bya bar skyes pa'i / sga rigs kyi ston pa tshul khrims rgyal mtshan gyis [233] sa mtha'i ri khrod du legs par sbyar ba dge'o ...  [dedication verses] zhes sho lko chu bo'i grangs ldan 'di yig bris pa she tsu wer zhi'i sm[r]as so.  Note: the Zhangzhung name of the scribe most likely Tibetanizes to Bsod-nams-rgyal-mtshan (but she tsu could be shes rab, and wer zhi could be rgyal po).

— YTKC, p. 234:  sga rigs kyi ston pa tshul khrims rgyal mtshan kyis [gyis] mdzad pa / gzhi lam 'bras bu'i gsal byed kyis [kyi] rgyan.

9. Theg pa chen po sa dang lam gyi gzhung bshad / Gzhis lam 'bras bu'i don mdor bsdus pa [gzhis ~ gzhi].  In 3 chapters.

— Contained in:  Zhwa dkar g.yung drung bon gyi bstan pa'i 'dus spyi dpal gshen bstan sman ri'i gling gi bshad sgrub slob gnyer 'dus sde'i yig cha [Yig cha material for Study Use in Bonpo Higher Learning Establishments concerning the Esoteric & Exoteric Topics such as Sa lam, Bden gnyis, etc.], by various authors, "reproduced from copies of manuscripts and blockprints from Dolpo and Tibet," Khedup Gyatso, Bonpo Monastic Centre (Dolanji 1985), pp. 1-26.

Colophon (26.3):  thar pa'i la tshig gzhi lam 'bras / phyis skyes gad pa'i phyogs skyon gyi / gzhan gyi lung mang rang gzhung 'khyar / gzhung med rang so tshug min mthong /  de phyir gzhung ldan rang so tshug / tshig nyung don 'dril 'jug pa de / yid ches rang gi lung don 'di / gzhan phyir tshul khrims rgyal gyi sbyar / de ltar rnal 'byor khri gdug 'di / log rtog zhag mig 'grib gyur kyang / nges rtog chu mig sgo phyed nas / shes ldan snang ba gsal bar smon / kha ba can gyi shar phyogs rgyal mo rong / zhes bya bar skyes pa yi / sga rigs ston pa tshul khrims rgyal mtshan gyi sa mtha'i ri khrod du sdeb pa'o.

— I believe it is this text that is listed with the very short title Sa lam in YTKC, p. 221:  sa lam dga' ston [~sga ston] tshul khrims rgyal mtshan can.

10. Theg rim gyi rnam bshad gsal ba'i me long.

— Contained in Katen, vol. 159, pp. 1-324.  CNCB, p. 1003.  Colophon as given there:  theg pa rim pa gsal byed me long zhes bya ba'i 'grel pa / kha ba can gyi shar phyogs rgya mo rong du skyes pa'i / sga ston tshul khrims rgyal mtshan la / dbra ston bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan gyis bskul zhing / rtags bsdus gzhigs gnas ri khrod du sbyar ba'o.

E. Dhāraṇī Texts

11. Rnam par rgyal ba'i gzungs sgrub nor bu'i gter mdzod. 

— Contained in:  Gshen Mkhas-grub Tshul-khrims-rgyal-mtshan (Shi-la-dhwa-dza, b. 1783), Mdo mang: A Collection of Bonpo Canonical Texts and Dhāraṇī of the Gshen tshang, "reproduced from an original manuscript from Klu-brag Dgon-pa in Mustang," Tibetan Bonpo Monastic Centre (Dolanji 1974), in 2 vols., vol. 1, pp. 503-546.  There doesn't seem to be a colophon at all, but there are a number of distinct texts, with lots of footnote translations of the Zhangzhung dhāraṇīs.

12. G.yung drung gtsang ma'i gsang gzungs, ed. by Sga-ston.

— Contained in:  Gshen Mkhas-grub Tshul-khrims-rgyal-mtshan (Shi-la-dhwa-dza, b. 1783), Mdo mang: A Collection of Bonpo Canonical Texts and Dhāraṇī of the Gshen tshang, "reproduced from an original manuscript from Klu-brag Dgon-pa in Mustang," Tibetan Bonpo Monastic Centre (Dolanji 1974), in 2 vols., vol. 1, pp. 547-570.  Colophon (567.2):  ces pa 'di ni zang zang sham po gnyis ka nas mthun par bsgrigs pa yin te /  sga rigs kyi ston pa tshul khrims rgyal mtshan gyis phyogs gcig tu legs par bkod cing dag par bgyis pa dge legs 'phel... rang btsun dge rgyal gyis zhu dag mdzad pa'i zhig la gtug nas zhu dag tshar gcig dmu gshen btsun dbang gis bgyis pa'o...  Note: Two distinct terma versions have been edited together here by Sga-ston (the final colophon on p. 570 supplies lineages).

Note:  This pair of titles has its very close equivalent in the titles [1] Rnam par rgyal ba'i gzungs sgrub nor bu gter spungs (pp. 261-353) and [2] G.yung drung gtsang ma'i tshe gzungs (pp. 355-382) as found in a modern prayer-recitation handbook with the cover title Bon kyi zhal 'don gces bsdus, published recently in Chengdu in 678 pages.  [1] is a compilation of dozens of quite brief Dhāraṇī, by Gshen-gyi Drang-srong Shes-rab-rgyal-mtshan (1356 1415) at Sman-ri, with some slight clarifications added by 'myself,' Kun-grol-grags-pa (b. 1700).  [2] is a compilation of three different Dhāraṇī, the first and longest of them being a revelation of Dpon-gsas Khyung-rgod-rtsal (b. 1175)  at Zang-zang Lha-brag.