Tertön ()
is a term within
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (also referred to as Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Lamaism, Lamaistic Buddhism, Himalayan Buddhism, and Northern Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet and Bhutan, where it is the dominant religion. It is also in majo ...
meaning a person who is a discoverer of ancient hidden texts or ''
terma''. Many tertöns are considered to be incarnations of the twenty five main disciples of
Padmasambhava (
Guru Rinpoche), who foresaw a dark time in Tibet. He and his consort
Yeshe Tsogyal hid teachings to be found in the future to benefit beings. A vast system of
transmission lineages developed. Scriptures from the
Nyingma
Nyingma (literally 'old school') is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also often referred to as ''Ngangyur'' (, ), "order of the ancient translations". The Nyingma school is founded on the first lineages and trans ...
school were updated by terma discoveries, and terma teachings have guided many Tibetan
Bon and
Buddhist
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
practitioners.
The Termas are sometimes objects like statues, and can also exist as dharma texts and experiences. Tertöns discover the texts at the right time and place. The teachings can be relatively simple transmissions as well as entire meditation systems. Termas are found in rocks, water and the minds of incarnations of Guru Rinpoche's students.
Prominent Nyingma tertöns
According to generally accepted history, the rediscovering of terma began with the first tertön,
Sangye Lama (1000–1080).
The Five Tertön Kings
Throughout the centuries, many Nyingmapas were known as tertöns. Five of them were widely recognized as very important ones and called the "five tertön kings:"
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Nyangral Nyima Özer (1124–1192)
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Guru Chöwang (1212-1270), also known as Guru Chökyi Wangchuk
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Dorje Lingpa (1346–1405)
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Pema Lingpa (1445/50–1521)
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Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820–1892)
File:Nyangrel Nyima Ozer.jpg, Nyangrel Nyima Ozer
File:Guru Chowang.jpg, Guru Chöwang
File:Dorje Lingpa.jpg, Dorje Lingpa
File:Pema Lingpa.jpg, Pema Lingpa
File:Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo.jpg, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo
Female Tertöns
Some influential female tertöns have all been considered to be emanations of
Yeshe Tsogyal:
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Jomo Menmo (13th century), the consort of Guru Chöwang
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Mingyur Paldrön
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Sera Khandro (1892–1940)
Other influential female tertöns include:
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Tāre Lhamo (1938–2003)
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Ayu Khandro (Long Life Dakini, 1839–1953)
File:Sera_Khandro_Kunzang_Dekyong_Wangmo.jpeg, Sera Khandro
File:Ayu-khandro.jpg, Ayu Khandro
File:Tare_Lhamo_IMG_0254.jpg, Tare Lhamo
Tāre Lhamo, Tāre Dechen Gyalmo ( Earth Tiger Year 1938–2002), was a Tibetan Buddhist master, visionary, and treasure revealer ( ''gter ston'') who gained renown in eastern Tibet. She was especially praised for her life-saving miracles during ...
Other Nyingma tertöns
Other important Nyingma tertöns include:
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Zhangtön Tashi Dorjé (1097–1167), reveled the ''
Vima Nyingthig
Vima Nyingthig (), "Seminal Heart of Vimalamitra", in Tibetan Buddhism is one of the two "seminal heart" () collections of the menngagde cycle Dzogchen, the other one being "Seminal Heart of the Dakini" (''mkha' 'gro snying thig''). Traditionally ...
''
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Rinchen Lingpa (1295–1375)
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Sangye Lingpa (1340–1396)
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Rigdzin Gödem (1307–1408), revealed the ''Northern Treasures''
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Karma Lingpa
Karma Lingpa (1326–1386) was the tertön (revealer) of the Bardo Thodol, the so-called ''Tibetan Book of the Dead''. Tradition holds that he was a reincarnation of Chokro Lü Gyeltsen, a disciple of Padmasambhava.
History
Karma Lingpa was ...
(14th. century), revealed the ''Kar-gling zhi-khro'', which includes the ''
Bardo Thödrol''
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Thangtong Gyalpo (1385–1510)
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Ratna Lingpa (1403–1471)
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Kunkyong Lingpa (1408–1489)
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Tennyi Lingpa Padma Tsewang Gyalpo (1480–1535)
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Lhatsün Namkha Jikmé (1597–c.1650)
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Jatsön Nyingpo (1585–1656), revealed the ''Könchok Chidü''
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Namchö Mingyur Dorje (1645–1667), known for the
''Namchö'' (Sky Dharma)
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Terdak Lingpa (1646-1714)
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Jigme Lingpa
Jigme Lingpa (1730–1798) was a Tibetan '' tertön'' of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He was the promulgator of the Longchen Nyingthig, the Heart Essence teachings of Longchenpa, from whom, according to tradition, he received a ...
(1729–1798), known for the ''
Longchen Nyingthig''
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Orgyen Chokgyur Lingpa (1829–1870)
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Dudjom Lingpa (1835–1904), revealed part of the ''
Dudjom Tersar''
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Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (10 June 1904 – 17 January 1987), reincarnation of Dudjom Lingpa, revealed part of the ''
Dudjom Tersar''
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Jigme Phuntsok
Kyabje Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok, (Tibetan: , Wylie transliteration: 'jigs med phun tshogs 'byung gnas) (1933 – 7 January 2004), was a Nyingma lama and Terton from Sertha Region. His family were Tibetan nomads. At the age of five he was rec ...
(1933 – 7 January 2004)
File:Ridzin Gödem.JPG, Ridzin Gödem
File:Ratna Lingpa.JPG, Ratna Lingpa
File:Jigme_Lingpa.jpg, Jigme Lingpa
Jigme Lingpa (1730–1798) was a Tibetan '' tertön'' of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He was the promulgator of the Longchen Nyingthig, the Heart Essence teachings of Longchenpa, from whom, according to tradition, he received a ...
File:Dudjom Lingpa.jpg, Dudjom Lingpa
File:Dudjom Rinpoche with Prince Paljor Namgyal and Maharani Kunzang Dechen Tshomo Namgyal.jpg, Dudjom Rinpoche
File:Jigme Phuntsok.jpg, Jigme Phuntsok
In other Tibetan Buddhist schools
The 15th Karmapa
Khakyab Dorje of the
Karma Kagyu Lineage was a tertön. There was a prophecy from
Yeshe Tsogyal that he should take tantric consorts. Initially, he wished to stay a monk, but his health was failing. Meditation masters told him he would die if he didn't fulfill his functions as a tertön. In 1892, he was convinced to marry when he was 20 years old. By the time the 15th karmapa died, he had accumulated 40 boxes of termas, texts and objects.
Another noteworthy tertön is
Tsangpa Gyare, founder of the
Drukpa Lineage
The Drukpa Kagyu (), or simply Drukpa, sometimes called either Dugpa or " Red Hat sect" in older sources, (12th century).
The Drikung Kagyu also have a Dzogchen terma tradition, the ''Yangzab Dzogchen'', based on termas revealed by Rinchen Phuntsog (16th century).
The
5th Dalai Lama was a tertön who revealed a Dzogchen terma cycle through his pure visions known as the ''Sangwa Gyachen ''(Bearing the Seal of Secrecy). The Fifth Lelung Jedrung, Lobzang Trinle (b.1697 - d.1740) was also a terton.
Tertön practices
Consorts, with whom they practice sexual
yoga
Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciou ...
or
karmamudra to accelerate and enhance their capacity for realization, are thought to be very important to tertöns. Fremantle (2001: p. 19) states that:
One of the special requirements for the discovery of termas is the inspiration of the feminine principle, just as it was necessary for their concealment. The great majority of tertöns have been men, and generally they are accompanied by their wives or female companions (who need not necessarily have a sexual relationship with them). Alternatively, something representing the tertön's complementary energy, whether male or female, must be present.[Fremantle, Francesca (2001). ''Luminous Emptiness: Understanding the Tibetan Book of the Dead''. Boston: Shambhala Publications, Inc. . p. 19.]
Yet, even very realized female practitioners bring forth terma, sometimes with an living male consort and sometimes alone.
Dakini
A ḍākinī ( sa, डाकिनी; ; mn, хандарма; ; alternatively 荼枳尼, ; 荼吉尼, ; or 吒枳尼, ; Japanese: 荼枳尼 / 吒枳尼 / 荼吉尼, ''dakini'') is a type of female spirit, goddess, or demon in Hinduism and Bud ...
Sera Khandro is a notable example of a woman tertön.
Although the authenticity and value of a terma may be questioned or debated, tertöns are exempt from being judged according to their behavior and lifestyle, with
Guru Rinpoche having cautioned that “hidden enlightened beings appear in uncertain form” and, by contrast, “fool-deceivers are great hypocritical mimics of the dharmic practitioner”.
[Tulku Thondup Rinpoche, ''Hidden Teachings of Tibet: An Explanation of the Terma Tradition of the Nyingma School of Buddhism'', Wisdom Publications, London, 1986, p. 157. ]
References
* Trungpa, Chögyam (2005).
Interview With Karma Senge About Kyere Gompa'. Accessed May 22, 2021.
External links
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{{TibetanBuddhism
History of Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhist literature
Treasure of Asia
Tibetan words and phrases