Buddhism and the Historicising of Medicine in Thirteenth-Century Tibet

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The rTsod bzlog gegs sel 'khor lo (no.6) offers commentarial arguments on terms such as 'root' and 'branch' and the structure of the eight branches, a controversy spawned by different presentations in the Four Tantras and the Eight Branches.

“It is followed by the rTsod b;::,log gegs sel 'khor lo (no.6), which offers a series of commentarial arguments on the meanings of terms such as 'root' and 'branch' and the structure of the 'eight branches' of medical knowledge, a controversy that was spawned by the different presentations of these topics in the Four Tantras and the lndic Eight Branches.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The history tells the story of Sakyamuni's conception, birth, youth and enlightenment.

“The history then tells the story of Sakyamuni's conception, birth, youth and enlightenment.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The text links these groupings to a Nyingma tantric bibliographic system, showing the Four Tantras contains Mahayoga-level tantra, Anuyoga-level scripture, and Atiyoga-level oral instructions.

“these groupings are further linked to a Nyingma tantric bibliographic system, showing also that the Four Tantras contains the Mahayoga level tantra (rgyud), the Anuyoga-level scripture (lung), and the Atiyoga-level oral instructions (man ngag).”

Probably not a substantial claim.

Very little of this ritual content is found in the Four Tantras.

“Very little of this sort of content is found in the Four Tantras.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

At the first turning of the wheel, Sakyamuni taught medicine in the Vinaya; at the second, he spoke two medical teachings; at the third, he spoke the mDo gser 'od dam pa.

“At the first turning of the wheel, he taught medicine in the Vinaya.At the second turning of the wheel, he spoke two medical teachings, Kun dga' bo la gcer mthong rig pa, and Shel gyi me long.At the third turning of the wheel, he spoke the mDo gser 'od dam pa.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

In the Khyung chen lding ba's view, gaining knowledge and skill in all arts and sciences is an essential practice for one on the Buddhist path.

“In this view, gaining knowledge and skill in all the arts and sciences is an essential practice, not only for a generally educated person, but specifically for one on the Buddhist path.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The Khyung chen lding ba cites Asanga's Mahayanasutralamkara to support the importance of the five arts and sciences.

“The Khyung chen lding ba exhorts its audience to study the five arts and sciences, citing Asa1_1ga's fourth-century MahayanasutralaT!l,kara (Mdo sge rgyan) in several instances to support its claim for their importance.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The text says humans manifested as defined by the three poisons and 84,000 afflictive emotions, and worked to escape samsara by the teachings of the nine vehicles.

“Humans manifested as defined by the three poisons and 84,000 afflictive emotions, and they worked to escape sarpsara, the text tells us, by means of the teachings of the nine vehicles.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The text says medicine is aimed at increasing life span by healing illness, using dietary, behavioural, medicinal and mechanical interventions.

“Medicine is aimed at increasing life span, it says, by healing illness, using dietary, behavioural, medicinal and mechanical interventions.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The Sri'u gso ba med thabs med pa (no.12.3) describes ritual protections for babies and children up to age eight, including prayer flags, mantras, prayers, and avoiding evil spirits.

“A focus on healing rituals is also part of the Sri'u gso ba med thabs med pa (no.12.3), which describes ritual protections for babies and children up to the age of eight, covering topics such as how to erect prayer flags around the house, mantras and special prayers to recite, and how to avoid evil spirits.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The text says treatises on medicine include 78 volumes authored by eight Indian sages, divided into five tantra classes and five sutra classes.

“Treatises on medicine, the history tells us, include 78 volumes authored by eight Indian sages, which are divided into five tantra classes and five siitra classes.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Most works in the collection are independent medical treatises offering diagnostic or therapeutic instructions or serving as reference works.

“Most works in this collection are independent medical treatises, either offering instructions on techniques of diagnosis and therapeutics or serving as reference works.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one. The quote only partly states this claim.

The Sa dpyad stag mo'i rngam thabs (no.3) summarises the Four Tantras and presents Tibetan medicine using the five excellencies.

“The next work in the collection, the Sa dpyad (bead) stag mo'i rngam thabs (No. 3), summarises the contents of the Four Tantras and is similar in format and content to the first chapter of the first book of the Four Tantras, the Root Tantra (rTsa rgyud); it presents Tibetan”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The sTong thun mdzes pa'i 'a' ris (no.2) is one of the earliest commentaries on the Explanatory Tantra, the second book of the Four Tantras.

“The sTong thun md;:;es pa'i )a' ris (no.2) is one of the earliest commentaries on the second book of the Four Tantras, the Explanatory Tantra (bShad rgyud).”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The last few pages address these teachings in very general terms, emphasising links to Buddhism when possible.

“The last few pages of the text address these teachings in very general terms, emphasising links to Buddhism when possible.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The Khyung chen lding ba's medical history begins with the beginning of time, before sentient beings strayed into ignorance, when minds were self-arisen and possessed clear insight.

“this medical history begins with the beginning of time, a time before sentient beings had strayed into ignorance when, the text says, minds were established self-arisenly and possessed of clear and subtle insight that lacked partiality.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Two of the earliest histories of Tibetan medicine are part of the Eighteen Additional Practices and record two accounts of the origins of the Four Tantras.

“Two of the earliest histories of Tibetan medicine are part of the Eighteen Additional Practices, and, as noted above, they record two accounts of the origins of the Four Tantras.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The brGyud pa'i rnam thar med thabs med pa (no.12.1) is a verse history of the Four Tantras lineage up to g.Yu thog.

“The other historiographical work, the brGyud pa'i mam thar med thabs med pa (no.12.1 ), is a verse history of the Four Tantras lineage up to g.Yu thog.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The Khog 'bugs khyung chen lding ba's colophon attributes its authorship to g.Yu thog yon tan mgon po, although later Tibetan historians debate that claim.

“The text's colophon attributes its authorship to g.Yu thog yon tan mgon po, although later Tibetan historians debate that claim, as I will discuss below.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

The rNam thar med thabs med pa explains that the Four Tantras was expounded in Uddiyana by Rig pa'i ye shes, passed to an Indian pandit, to Vairocana, to King Khri srong lde bstan, hidden at Samye, and recovered 150 years later by Grwa pa mngon shes, eventually reaching g.Yu thog.

“It explains that the Four Tantras was expounded in Uddiyana by the enlightened sage Rig pa'i ye shes, who passed it to an Indian pandit, who passed it to Vairocana, who gave it to King Khri srong Ide bstan, who hid it at Samye.One hundred and fifty years later, it was recovered by the Buddhist monk Grwa pa mngon shes, passing through two more sets of hands until it reached g.Yu thog himself.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The Four Tantras accumulated a commentarial literature that continues to the present and constitutes a genre of medical writing.

“As the Four Tantras slowly became known, it began to amass a commentarial literature, such compositions continuing to the present day, and commentaries on the work are widespread enough to represent a genre of medical writing.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

In the GP edition, the Khog 'bugs khyung chen lding ba is 34 pages long and is the collection's first text.

“In the two-volume edition of the Eighteen Additional Practices recently reprinted by the Gansu Publishing House in the PRC, the Khog 'bugs khyung chen lding ba, 34 pages long, is the collection's first text.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

The text argues that it is incorrect to think oral teachings are only those from the historical Buddha's mouth during his lifetime.

“noting that it is incorrect to think that the oral teachings are only those that came from the historical Buddha's mouth during his lifetime.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The sTong thun mdzes pa'i 'a' ris defines religion after the Nyingma manner as the teachings of the nine vehicles.

“'Religion' (nang rig pa) is defined after the manner of the Tibetan Buddhist Nyingma tradition as the teachings of the nine vehicles.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The text says the primordial Buddha Samantabhadra existed in understanding that self and other were indifferentiable; those unable to see this emerged into three realms as sentient beings.

“the primordial Buddha Samantabhadra existed in the understanding that self and other were indifferentiable; those who were unable to see this emerged into the three realms of cyclic existence as sentient beings.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The text recommends behavioural changes first, then dietary changes, then medicinal supplements, then mechanical interventions.

“Behavioural changes aimed at readjusting imbalanced humoral energies is the first recommended treatment, and if that is unsuccessful, dietary changes are next, then medicinal supplements, and finally mechanical interventions.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The Phan byed sngags 'bum dkar po (no.18) describes healing rituals involving mantra recitation; its first part contains mantras that appear to be phonetic transcriptions of Chinese, and its second part contains mantras that appear Sanskrit in origin.

“Finally, the Phan byed (bya) sngags 'bum dka,r po (no.l 8) also describes healing rituals involving mantra recitation; the first part of the text contains many mantras that appear to be phonetic transcriptions of Chinese, and the second part contains mantras that appear Sanskrit in origin.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

The anthology's first text articulates an explicit connection between Tibetan medical literature and Indian Buddhism.

“The anthology's first text articulates an explicit connection between Tibetan medical literature and Indian Buddhism.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The text describes two methods of healing: prevention of illness and healing of illnesses themselves.

“There are two methods of healing, one involving recommendations for the prevention of illness and the other involving the healing of illnesses themselves.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The sTong thun mdzes pa'i 'a' ris says medicine consists of three great systems: India, China, and Tibet.

“'Medicine' (gso ba rig pa) is said to consist in general of three great systems, those of India, China, and Tibet.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The text says the teachings of the Four Tantras are specifically tantric: a textual transmission authorised by divine blessing and supplemented by secret oral instructions.

“Fourthly, the text tells us that the teachings of the Four Tantras are specifically tantric: they are a textual transmission authorised by divine blessing and supplemented by secret oral instructions.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The collection contains five works that are explicitly commentaries on the Four Tantras.

“The collection contains five works that are explicitly commentaries on the Four Tantras.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The text describes Buddhas manifesting in six realms; in the human realm, some protected against disorders of the five elements using astrology, some against disorders of the three humors using medicine, and some against demons using rituals.

“Buddhas manifested in the six realms of existence; in the human realm were those who protected against disorders of the five elements using astrology, those who protected against disorders of the three humors using the science of medicine (gso rig), and those who protected against demons using naga rituals, exorcisms, mantras, and so on.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

Several works in the anthology explicitly aim to show medicine as part of Buddhist history.

“Several of these works display an explicit concern to show medicine to be part of Buddhist history.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The Rin chen spungs pa'i mdzes rgyan (no.9) contains a short description of ritual methods for healing diseases such as smallpox, dysentery, headache or childhood ailments, by visualisation, mantra recitation, protection cords, and amulets.

“The Rin chen spungs pa'i md;:,es rgyan (no.9) contains a very short description of ritual methods for healing diseases such as smallpox, dysentery, headache or childhood ailments, by means of visualisation, mantra recitation, protection cords, and amulets.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

The collection contains two of the earliest histories of medicine in Tibetan literature.

“this collection contains two of the earliest histories of medicine in Tibetan literature”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The rGyud chung bdud rtsi snying po's colophon states that the Kashmiri Zla ba mngon dga' learned it from Vagbhata and that the teachings were passed down to g.Yu thog, suggesting a close connection with the Eight Branches tradition.

“The text's colophon states that the Kashmiri Zla ha mngon dga' learned it from Vagbhata (known as Pha gol in Tibetan), and that the teachings were then eventually passed down to g.Yu thog, suggesting a close connection with the Eight Branches tradition.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The text also provides a shorter presentation of medical teachings in human-authored treatises.

“However, a shorter presentation of medical teachings in human-authored treatises is also provided.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The text says Sakyamuni then manifested as the Medicine Buddha and spoke the Four Tantras, and next as Visvakarma and spoke about the science of handcrafted arts.

“He then manifested as the Medicine Buddha and spoke the Four Tantras, and next he appeared as Visvakarma and spoke about the science of handcrafted arts (bzo rig)”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

The text explains the difference between oral teachings and human-authored treatises and situates medical teachings within that categorisation.

“This explanation begins with a presentation of the difference between these sorts of works and the situating of medical teachings within that categorisation.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

The Khog 'bugs khyung chen lding ba situates medicine as one of the five major arts and sciences, placing it hierarchically equal to yet separate from religion.

“First, the text situates medicine as one of the five major arts and sciences, a context that places it hierarchically equal to, and yet still in some way separate from, religion.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The text says the purpose of achieving a long healthy life, full of material resources and dharma, is happiness in this life; happiness in future lives is achieved by generating the mind of enlightenment.

“The purpose of achieving a long healthy life, full of material resources and the dharma, is happiness in this life; happiness in future lives is achieved by generating the mind of enlightenment.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The Khyung chen lding ba groups the arts and sciences into three categories: inner sciences aimed at self-knowledge; handcrafted arts and medicine aimed at caring for others; grammar and logic aimed at eliminating others' ignorance.

“After defining each of the arts and sciences, it then groups them into three categories: the 'inner sciences' (or Buddhism) are activities aimed at knowledge of oneself, the text says; handcrafted arts and healing or medicine are activities aimed at caring for others; and grammar and logic are activities aimed at eliminating the ignorance of others.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Most texts in the Eighteen Additional Practices were likely authored by g.Yu thog's students or teachers, dating the collection to the mid-twelfth to mid-thirteenth century.

“Most of these texts appear rather to have been authored by g.Yu thog's students or teachers, dating the collection to a period of two generations from the mid-twelfth to the mid-thirteenth century; the authorship of each of the texts has been discussed in an article by Barbara Gerke”

• cites Gerke 2001Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim.

A large portion of the text is devoted to explaining a bibliographic system aiming to show that the Buddha himself spoke many fundamental medical teachings.

“a large portion of the text is devoted to explaining a bibliographic system that aims to show that the Buddha himself spoke many fundamental medical teachings.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The Four Tantras is spoken by the Buddha, recorded as a conversation, and organised into a root text, explanatory text, practice text, and supplementary text, following a model of tantric literature.

“The Four Tantras is spoken by the Buddha, recorded in the format of a conversation, and organised into a root text (the first of the four tantras), with an explanatory text (tantra number two), a text on how to put it into practice (tantra number three), and a supplementary text of additional instructions (number four), following a model of tantric literature, the history tells us.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The earliest commentaries on the Four Tantras date to g.Yu thog's time and are found in the Eighteen Additional Practices.

“The earliest commentaries on the Four Tantras date to the time of the twelfth-century g.Yu thog himself and are found in a collection of medical works known as the Eighteen Additional Practices ( Cha lag bco brgyad).”

Probably not a substantial claim.

The first text in the Eighteen Additional Practices is a history of the Four Tantras.

“examines more closely its first text, a history of the Four Tantras”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Although the Khyung chen lding ba extols the Buddhist origins of medical knowledge, it was roundly rejected by later historians of medicine.

“One of the things that makes the Khyung chen lding ba so interesting is that, although it extols the Buddhist origins of medical knowledge, it was roundly rejected by later historians of medicine.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The origins of the Four Tantras are debated, with three theories: revelation/terma, authorship by g.Yu thog, and speech of the Buddha.

“One of the most contentious issues to be found in medical literature, for instance, is the question of the origins of the Four Tantras itself, a debate that has been addressed in a recent article by Janet Gyatso.”

• cites Janet GyatsoNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim.

The structure of the Khyung chen lding ba is clearly patterned after Buddhist historical narratives.

“The structure of this text in general is clearly patterned after Buddhist historical narratives.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The teachings of g.Yu thog and his students dominated Central Tibetan medical scholarship for several generations and shaped the trajectory of medicine.

“the teachings of g.Yu thog and his students dominated Central Tibetan medical scholarship for several generations and thus had a shaping influence on the trajectory of medicine.”

The quote only partly states this claim.

The use of ritual and mantra recitation is not exclusive to 'religion' in these works, because such practices also populate the Eight Branches and non-Buddhist Tibetan life.

“We have no reason to assert that the use of ritual and mantra recitation is the exclusive domain of 'religion' in these works.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

The Khog dbug khyung chen lding ba (no.1) is said by Samten Karmay to be the first medical history devoted to presenting medicine as an essential part of Buddhism.

“The Khog dbug ('bubs) khyung chen !ding ba (no.l ), said by Samten Karmay to be the first medical history devoted to presenting medicine as an essential part of Buddhism”

• cites Karmay 1998Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

It may state two separate claims as one.

The effort to articulate connections between Buddhism and medicine is not new; Tibetans as far back as the twelfth century were doing something similar.

“This article will show that the effort to articulate the connections between Buddhism and medicine is not, however, a new one, and that Tibetans themselves, as far back as the twelfth century, were doing something similar.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

By Sangs rgyas rgya mtsho's time, the five arts were all essential components of the path to enlightenment, each contributing to sentient beings' welfare and the bodhisattva's progress.

“By the time of Sangs rgyas rgya mtsho's writings on medicine, Schaeffer explains, 'the five arts are all essential components of the path toward enlightenment, for they each contribute to the welfare of sentient beings, and thus to the progress of the bodhisattva' .”

• cites SchaefferNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim.

For later historians, these texts are evidence of a struggle among medical scholars to articulate the boundaries of their discipline and its relationship to the increasingly dominant Buddhist worldview.

“For later historians, both inside and outside Tibet, these texts are evidence of a struggle among medical scholars to articulate the boundaries of their discipline and its relationship to the increasingly dominant Buddhist worldview.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

In the Tibetan scheme of five major arts and sciences, religion (nang don rig pa) and medicine (gso ba rig pa) are distinct members, along with language, logic, and handcrafted arts.

“In this scheme, the study of what we typically (but, in this case, not unproblematically) call 'religion' (nang don rig pa) and the study of medicine (gso ba rig pa) are two distinct members of the five major arts and sciences, along with the studies of language (sgra rig), logic (gtan tshig rig pa), and handcrafted arts (bzo rig pa).”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The emphasis on ritual practices and mantras for healing shows that medical treatment extends far beyond herbal compounds, the approach emphasised in much Tibetan medical practice today.

“The emphasis in many of these works on the use of ritual practices and mantras for healing illness shows that medical treatment extends far beyond the prescription of herbal compounds, the approach that is emphasised in much of Tibetan medical practice today.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The fact that medical students still study the rGyud chung bdud rtsi snying po indicates the presence of a living Eight Branches tradition.

“This possibility makes the fact that medical students still today study this work especially interesting, as it indicates the presence of a living Eight Branches tradition.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Karmay calls the brGyud pa'i rnam thar the first text to refer to Vairocana's connection to the Four Tantras.

“Karmay calls this the first text to refer to Vairocana's connection to the Four Tantras.”

• cites Karmay 1998Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Near the end of the work, the topic receiving least attention is the content of the Four Tantras, or the teachings of medicine themselves.

“Near the end of this work, we encounter the topic that receives the least attention in this text, the content of the Four Tantras, or the teachings of medicine themselves.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

The text uses a category of oral teachings occurring when the Buddha acts as an emanation to class the Four Tantras as oral transmission.

“A category of oral teachings that occur when the Buddha acts as an emanation allows the Four Tantras to be classed, indeed, as oral transmission.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

The Eighteen Additional Practices provides a glimpse of a period when borders between intellectual disciplines and literary genres were ill-defined.

“it provides us with a glimpse at a time in Tibetan history when borders between intellectual disciplines and literary genres were ill-defined.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

The focus of the history overall is the organisation of literature.

“The focus of this history overall is the organisation of literature.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

One of the most interesting aspects of the collection is the emphasis in many works on the healing effects of ritual.

“One of the most interesting aspects of this collection is the emphasis in many of its works on the healing effects of ritual.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

The Khyung chen lding ba is primarily a historical narrative of medical literature as Buddhist, with very little mention of other features potentially of historical import, such as practices, theories or major teachers.

“The work is thus primarily a historical narrative of medical literature as Buddhist, with very little mention of other features potentially of historical import, such as practices, theories or major teachers.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

The longest argument of the text is a discourse on the meaning of oral transmission and a defence of the Four Tantras as an orally transmitted teaching (bka')-the Buddha's own speech-and not a human-authored treatise (bstan 'gyur).

“the longest argument of the text appears as a discourse on the meaning of oral transmission and a defence of the Four Tantras as an orally transmitted teaching (bka')-in other words, the Buddha's own speechand not a human-authored treatise (bstan 'gyur).”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

The Khyung chen lding ba is a polemical narrative about the origins of the Four Tantras, specifically aimed at situating that text within a certain type of Buddhist literature; it is essentially a chronology and taxonomy of literature.

“the Khyung chen !ding ba is a polemical narrative about the origins of the Four Tantras, specifically aimed at situating that text within a certain type of Buddhist literature; it is thus essentially a chronology and taxonomy of literature.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

The central purpose of the Khyung chen lding ba is to emphasise necessary connections between the Four Tantras and the core teachings and literature of Indian Buddhism.

“Its central purpose is to emphasise necessary connections between the Four Tantras and the core teachings and literature of Indian Buddhism.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The Khyung chen lding ba is one of the earliest histories of medicine extant in Tibetan that focuses on or even acknowledges the Four Tantras, a work that became the most important text in Tibetan medicine for the next 800 years.

“What we have in the Khyung chen lding ba is one of the earliest histories of medicine extant in Tibetan that focuses on or, frankly, even acknowledges, the Four Tantras, a work that went on to become the most important text in Tibetan medicine for the next 800 years.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may state two separate claims as one.

The Khyung chen lding ba may have helped establish beyond debate the centrality of the Four Tantras for the academic medical traditions, at the expense of other medical texts in currency at the time.

“What it may have helped do during these crucial centuries, however, is establish beyond debate the centrality of the Four Tantras for the academic medical traditions, neoconservatist or not; this, at the expense, no doubt, of other medical texts in currency at the time.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The Khyung chen lding ba's omission of Tibetan medical history can perhaps be explained by its primary aim of proving the Indian origins of the Four Tantras.

“Perhaps this can in part be explained by the text's primary aim of proving the Indian origins of the Four Tantras.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

In many Tibetan historical narratives, there is a tendency to emphasise textual production over other possibly relevant historical data, but in the Khyung chen lding ba this is taken to an extreme.

“In many Tibetan historical narratives, there is indeed a tendency to emphasise textual production over other possibly relevant historical data, but in this particular narrative, this is taken to an extreme.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The influence of the Four Tantras gained sure footing slowly from this point onwards, for it soon becomes increasingly difficult to find a text that mentions medicine without acknowledging its primacy.

“The influence of the Four Tantras gained sure footing slowly from this point onwards, for it soon becomes increasingly difficult to find a text that mentions medicine without acknowledging its primacy.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The Khyung chen lding ba is also one of the very first histories bearing the title khog 'bugs, a bibliographic classification that continued to be held by many histories of medicine later.

“The Khyung chen lding ba is also one of the very first histories we have that bears the title khog 'bugs, a bibliographic classification that continued to be held by many histories of medicine to come later.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The Khyung chen lding ba uses bibliography alone as its strategy of historical proof.

“The Khyung chen !ding ba, by contrast, uses bibliography alone as its strategy of historical proof.”

Probably not a substantial claim.

The Khyung chen lding ba's author was clearly intent on impressing upon his readers the exclusively Indian origins of the Tibetan tradition.

“Its author was clearly intent on impressing upon his readers the exclusive{y Indian origins of the Tibetan tradition.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The Khyung chen lding ba has little mention of important people in the development of medical knowledge, or of distinctive teachings or practices.

“As such, as I have noted, there is little mention of important people in the development of medical knowledge, or of distinctive teachings or practices, topics that we might expect to find in a general history of medicine.”