Page:Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol 1.djvu/23



At the last Meeting of the Asiatic Society, a general view of the contents of the two great Tibetan works, the Kdh-gyur and Stdn-gyur, and especially of the former, was submitted, founded on materials supplied by Mr. Csoma de Koros. It was also stated, that that gentleman had consented to prepare a more detailed analysis of the whole from the copy in the Society's possession; and he has accordingly furnished the Society on the present occasion, with the result of his subsequent labours, being an analytical sketch of the contents of the Dul-vd, or first great division of the Kah-gyur.

It was stated in the preceding sketch, that the Kah-gyur usually consisted of 100 large volumes, classed under seven great divisions; each comprising a greater or lesser number of volumes, treating of the religious practices and tenets of the Baud'dhas; written originally in Sanscrit, but translated into Tibetan, for the greater part in the ninth century.

Of those divisions, it was also mentioned, that the first, or Dul-va, termed in Sanscrit Vinaya, Decorum or Discipline, occupied 13 volumes ; and, as introductory to the whole, described the different observances to be followed by the votaries of Bud'dhism, but more especially by those, whether male or female, who adopted a religious life. These observances are of a very comprehensive description, extending not only to moral and ceremonial duties, but to modes of personal deportment, and the different articles of food or attire. The precepts are interspersed with legendary accounts, explaining the occasion on which Sakya thought it necessary to communicate the instructions given.