After seven years of dedicated effort, the Asian Legacy Library’s preservation centers in South India have completed a monumental task: the digitization of the Narthang version of the Tengyur. This vast canonical collection, consisting of 226 volumes and 153,702 pages, is a cornerstone of Tibetan Buddhist literature, containing translations of the revered commentaries by Indian Buddhist masters like Nagarjuna, Asanga, and Vasubandhu. The project, which began in September 2017, involved three key centers—Hunsur, Bylakuppe, and Tenzin Dikyi Larso—all led by expert Tibetan women who have devoted their lives to this crucial work.
According to Sonam Lhamo, General Manager of the South India centers, the journey was difficult but fulfilling. “The journey of my life managing the input centers in South India was a dream that turned into reality,” she says. Over seven years, Lhamo and her team faced the immense challenge of working with fragile woodblock prints and the intricacies of transcribing Sanskrit mantras. Despite these obstacles, their determination never wavered. “It took almost seven years to complete the full task because we were working on multiple projects, including other critical texts like Jam dbyang zhad pa dor je and the Blue Annals,” she explains.
For Sonam, this project was about preserving the spiritual and cultural legacy of Tibetan Buddhism. “By making these rare texts accessible worldwide, we aim to preserve our culture and share the profound wisdom of Buddhism. Each page we transcribe brings the possibility of enlightenment and cultural preservation for future generations,” she emphasizes. This was a sentiment echoed by the entire team, who understood the significance of making these ancient texts available in a digital format.
The Narthang Tengyur, a collection of commentaries written by the great Indian Buddhist masters, holds tremendous cultural and scholarly value. As Sonam notes: “The cultural significance of preserving the Narthang Tengyur is to bring awareness of our ancient rare texts that contain wisdom and knowledge to the whole world.” She sees their work as not just digitizing manuscripts but ensuring that future generations can access and learn from these invaluable teachings.
Each page we transcribe brings the possibility of enlightenment and cultural preservation for future generations
The entire process required the kind of commitment and precision that only comes from a deep sense of purpose. As Sonam reflects, “This achievement applies to all the team members in this project who worked tirelessly and diligently to preserve these rare texts. I am feeling so proud despite it taking seven years to complete.” For her and the other women leading these efforts, the preservation of these texts is a responsibility to their culture and to the world.
Without the generosity and support of donors worldwide, this project might not have been possible. The team appreciates this support, acknowledging that it sustained the centers through the most challenging moments. “I really have no words to express my gratitude to team members and all the people who are involved in this project. The people of the world who support us—they are our backbones. Without their generosity, we would not have worked continuously,” Sonam commented.
We invite you to join us in celebrating this historic accomplishment, which will help preserve and share Buddhist teachings with generations to come. Through the digitization of the Narthang Tengyur, the Asian Legacy Library has not only safeguarded these precious texts but also ensured that the wisdom they hold continues to resonate across time and space.
