The Shes rab khri pa, or Perfection of Wisdom in Ten Thousand Lines, is one of the esteemed versions of the Perfection of Wisdom sutras, widely revered throughout the Himalayan region. As part of the Prajnaparamitasutras, these texts are among the most important Mahayana scriptures, exploring the profound concept of the emptiness of all phenomena. Believed by Mahayana followers to be the Buddha’s words and attributed by modern historians to have been composed between the first century BC and the second century CE, these sutras lay the foundation for the teachings on the Middle Way, which became highly influential in Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhism. In this collection, the Shes rab khri pa is presented in two volumes, each in the traditional loose poti format. The volumes are inscribed in uchen script with black ink on cream-colored Bhutanese handmade paper. The first page of each volume stands out, written in gold ink on dark blue paper, with two miniature depictions of the Buddha gracefully placed along the margins. These artistic elements underscore the devotion and craftsmanship invested in its creation. Preserved as a sacred relic, this collection is housed on traditional wooden bookshelves within the temple. Carefully safeguarded, each volume is wrapped in multiple layers of cloth and shielded by two wooden boards, securely fastened with a string, ensuring its protection for future generations.
Extent: 2 volumes of manuscripts.
Original institution reference: Sher khri.
