FAQ

FAQs

Find answers to commonly asked questions about our translations, our offerings, and how you can support the project.

What is the purpose of 84000?

84000’s mission is to translate the Tibetan Buddhist canon and to make it freely accessible. Our vision is to bring the Buddha’s words to life to awaken humanity.

What are the main goals of 84000’s translation work?

84000 is translating the entire collection known as the Tibetan Buddhist canon, which is divided into two great collections called the Kangyur and the Tengyur, and numbers approximately 231,800 pages of classical Tibetan. We aim to complete the translation of the Kangyur by 2035 and the translation of the Tengyur by 2110.

What is the difference between a sūtra and a text?

The sūtras are one category among the Buddhist scriptures that are considered to be the words of the Buddha himself and are contained within the Kangyur, which is the principal collection of 1,169 Indian texts that have been translated into Tibetan. A large group of the texts in the Kangyur are sūtras, but there are also many texts of other categories, such as the Vinaya texts, the tantras, and the dhāraṇīs. Learn more about the Kangyur.

How are texts selected for translation?

The editorial committee works with the translators and editors to select texts. The texts are chosen based on their importance and relevance, as well as the availability of source texts and suitable translators.

What makes the Tibetan Buddhist canon unique?

Of the three principal Buddhist canons—Pali, Chinese, and Tibetan—the most striking feature that differentiates the Tibetan canon lies in its extensive sections of tantras and Vajrayāna treatises (while the Chinese Tripiṭaka contains only some outer tantras, and the Pali Canon none at all).

But also, while there are many Mahāyāna sūtras and treatises common to the Tibetan and Chinese canons, there are many others that have survived only as their Tibetan translations and are not found in Chinese.

Finally, the Tibetan translations of the Vinaya (discipline) texts, although they follow only one of the several Vinaya traditions that were preserved in Chinese, are the most complete and detailed body of Vinaya literature in any canon.

On the level of individual texts, there is little in common between the Tibetan and Pali canons. However, most of the teachings and stories found in Pali do also exist in Tibetan, in the form of parallel passages rather than as separate works.

The Tibetan Kangyur and Tengyur thus preserve a vast range of Buddhist literature that is unique in the extent to which all three principal vehicles (yānas) are included.

Why “84000?” What is the significance of the number 84,000 if the Kangyur actually has 1,169 texts?

Our name is inspired by the 84,000 different teachings that the Buddha is said to have given. Though there has never been mention of 84,000 actual texts (in fact, the Kangyur contains 1,169 texts), there are many mentions of 84,000 teachings, also called elements of the teachings.

The sūtras as a whole are assumed to cover all these 84,000 teachings which are said to address the many possible afflictions and obscurations of sentient beings, as well as to account for every possible remedy for them. Some explanations of the number say that there are 21,000 antidotes to attachment, 21,000 to aversion, and 21,000 to ignorance, with a fourth set of 21,000 applying to all three afflictive mental states together.

More generally, the number 84,000 is also frequently seen in Buddhist scripture representing an archetypical large number or a unit of measure that can describe a variety of things, such as parasols, bodhisattvas, chariots, soldiers, palm trees, and so on—not just teachings or afflictions.

I’m a translator, how can I join 84000?

We are currently working on texts that require a great deal of expertise and prior experience as a translator. We, therefore, only invite applications from experts in the area of Kangyur and Tengyur studies. You can find more information on our Grants page.

What is a Sūtra Resounding, and can I organize one in my community?

A sūtra resounding is 84000's signature outreach activity. During a resounding, we recite the words of a sūtra aloud together—a practice that is said to benefit oneself and all those who can hear them.

84000 organizes global sūtra resoundings on significant days in the Buddhist calendar, and we encourage you to organize your own resoundings at home, or with your own communities.

For more information on how to host a resounding for others, or to view our variety of past resoundings, please visit our Resounding page (coming soon).

How can I support the work of 84000?

84000 is funded by the donations of dedicated individuals like you around the world, and our work depends on your generosity.

The most impactful way to support 84000 is through our Give Each Month (GEM) program which allows you to set a recurring donation of any amount that is directly debited from your card each month.

No matter how much you choose to give, a monthly gift triggers our Matching Funds program, which matches your donation each and every month. For example, if you have $108 to offer this year, you can do that as a one-time donation, but when it is offered as a recurring GEM gift of $9/month, by the end of the year, 84000 will have received $216—doubling your donation—at no extra cost to you!

Learn more about our Give Each Month (GEM) program.

If you are looking for other ways to support 84000, we also offer opportunities for leaving Legacy Gifts and to partake in our Sponsor a Sūtra program.

Can I volunteer for 84000?

In addition to supporting us through donations, there are many other ways to support 84000’s mission. One particularly meaningful way is by volunteering your skills to our Technology, Communications, or Operations teams, or by providing an extra pair of hands at our outreach events. If you are interested in offering your time or skills as a volunteer, we ask that you fill in the online volunteer form.