CAcknowledgments I am deeply grateful to Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, who has supported, encouraged, and helped me in all ways while I have been translating this, and to Khenpo Losal o f the Vajra Vidya Institute, who taught the class in which I first studied these texts and later helped clarify many points Especial thanks are due to Venerable Lodro Sangpo from Gampo Abbey, who reviewed the first draft, and Michele M artin, who reviewed the m anuscript when it was almost finished They both made dozens o f helpful suggestions that im proved this translation immeasurably I would also like to thank the Tsadra Foundation for their generous support of this publication as well as for their general encouragement throughout the entire process of bringing this work to publication I pray that these people and all the numerous others who have helped and encouraged me in m any ways have success in all they and swiftly bring themselves and others to the enduring happiness o f buddhahood x ix Vasubandhu Terses on the Treasury o f ^yíbhidharm a by Vasubandhu In Sanskrit: Abhidharmakosakarika In Tibetan: chos mngon pa mdzod kyi tshig le’ur byas pa In English: Verses on the Treasury of Abhidharma I prostrate to youthful Manjushri FIRST AREA Teachings on the Elements It is he who has conquered entirely the darkness toward all And guides sentient beings from the mire of samsara He teaches the meaning as it is: I prostrate to him, Then fully explain this treatise, The Treasury ofAbhidharma Abhidharma is stainless full knowing, along with its following; That by which and treatises by which one gains it Since this collects them completely in meaning, O r since they are its base, its TheTreasury ofAbhidharma W ithout full discernment of dharmas, there is not Any m ethod to totally quell the afflictions Because of afflictions, the world wanders the seas of existence That is why the Teacher taught this, they claim Defiled and undefiled dharmas: Except the truth of path, composites Are defiled since defilements can Develop in relation to them The undefiled is the truth of path And the three noncomposites, too, W hich are space and the two cessations Space is that which does not obstruct them ... since they are its base, its TheTreasury ofAbhidharma W ithout full discernment of dharmas, there is not Any m ethod to totally quell the afflictions Because of afflictions, the world wanders the. .. Teachings on the Elements It is he who has conquered entirely the darkness toward all And guides sentient beings from the mire of samsara He teaches the meaning as it is: I prostrate to him, Then fully... why the Teacher taught this, they claim Defiled and undefiled dharmas: Except the truth of path, composites Are defiled since defilements can Develop in relation to them The undefiled is the