The Sutra on the Ringing Staff

In this short sutra, The Sutra on the Ringing Staff, (Tib. འཁར་གསིལ་གྱི་མདོ།, Wyl. ’khar gsil gyi mdo) which lacks the customary Sanskrit title, the Buddha first instructs the monks to carry the ringing staff and then provides a brief introduction to its significance. In response to Venerable Mahakashyapa’s queries, the Buddha gives a more detailed explanation of the attributes of the staff and the benefits that can be derived from holding it. In the course of his exposition, he also elucidates the rich symbolism of its parts, such as the four prongs and the twelve rings. Finally, the Buddha explains that while the ringing staff is carried by all buddhas of the past, present, and future, the number of prongs on the staff might vary.

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The Tibetan translation of this sutra can be found in the General Sutra section of the Tibetan Kangyur, Toh 335

• English translation: The Sutra on the Ringing Staff