Terton - The Great Discoverers of Ancient Hidden Buddhist Texts or Terma

Terton -  The Discoverers of Ancient Hidden Buddhist Texts or Terma

Terton is a term within Tibetan Buddhism 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 school were updated by terma discoveries, and terma teachings have guided many Tibetan Bon and Buddhist 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 the incarnations of Guru Rinpoche's students.

Who was the first Terton?

Sangyé Lama

Starting with the first tertön, Sangyé Lama (1000–1080) and Drapa Ngönshé (1012–90), discoverer of the Four Medical Tantras, there have been hundreds of masters who specialized in the discovery of terma, continuing up until the present day with Kyabjé Dudjom Rinpoche and Kyabjé Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

Sangyé Lama (1000-1080) — the first tertön, or revealer of spiritual treasures (termas) hidden by Guru Rinpoche for the benefit of future generations. He was the first incarnation of Gyalsé Lharjé—one of the sons of Mutik Tsenpo and the immediate incarnation of King Trisong Detsen. One of his main termas was Tsa Sum Dril Drup , which was later rediscovered as a yang ter by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo—the thirteenth emanation of Gyalsé Lharjé.

There are said to be one hundred great tertöns and one thousand minor ones, of whom five in particular are known as the ‘Five Terton King or Sovereigns’:

The Five Terton King / Sovereigns:

Nyang Ral Nyima Özer (1124–1192)

Guru Chöwang (1212-1270)

Dorje Lingpa (1346-1405)

Pema Lingpa (1450-1521) 

Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820-1892).

Female Tertön  

Some influential female tertöns have all been considered to be emanations of Yeshe Tsogyal: 

1. Jomo Menmo (13th century), the consort of Guru Chöwang

2. Mingyur Paldrön

Sera Khandro (1892–1940)

Other influential female tertöns include:

Tāre Lhamo (1938–2003)

Ayu Khandro (Long Life Dakini, 1839–1953) 

Other important Nyingma tertöns include:

1. Zhangtön Tashi Dorjé (1097–1167), reveled the Vima Nyingthig
2. Rinchen Lingpa (1295–1375)
3. Sangye Lingpa (1340–1396)
4. Rigdzin Gödem (1307–1408), revealed the Northern Treasures
5. Karma Lingpa (14th. century), revealed the Kar-gling zhi-khro, which includes the Bardo Thödrol
6. Thangtong Gyalpo (1385–1510)
7. Ratna Lingpa (1403–1471)
8. Kunkyong Lingpa (1408–1489)
9. Tennyi Lingpa Padma Tsewang Gyalpo (1480–1535)
10. Lhatsün Namkha Jikmé (1597–c.1650)
11. Jatsön Nyingpo (1585–1656), revealed the Könchok Chidü
12. Namchö Mingyur Dorje (1645–1667), known for the Namchö (Sky Dharma)
13. Terdak Lingpa (1646-1714)
14. Jigme Lingpa (1729–1798), known for the Longchen Nyingthig
15. Orgyen Chokgyur Lingpa (1829–1870)
16. Dudjom Lingpa (1835–1904), revealed part of the Dudjom Tersar
17. Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje (10 June 1904 – 17 January 1987), reincarnation of Dudjom Lingpa, revealed part of the Dudjom Tersar

The Great Tertons 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.

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).

Another noteworthy tertön is Tsangpa Gyare, founder of the Drukpa Lineage (12th century).

The Drikung Kagyu also has a Dzogchen terma tradition, the Yangzab Dzogchen, based on termas revealed by Rinchen Phuntsog (16th century).

The Fifth Lelung Jedrung, Lobzang Trinle (b.1697 - d.1740) was also a terton.

For (Donations for our Buddhist research and development) 

Do you earnestly cherish our devoted work? Assuming this is the case, we are delighted that you are finding our blog useful and valuable. Would you consider making a donation for our Buddhist research and development?  

We need your help to secure the future of scholarly interaction with Buddhism. Since our very first publication of Dharma works and activities in the year 2008, we had been effortlessly providing free distribution of Dharma posts and articles throughout the previous 13 years.  We have exceptionally constrained supports and do not receive subsidized or funding from people in general. 

Please help us and to develop our Dharma activities that will not only benefit you, but to all Dharma readers on the planet. Please consider showing your support. Your generosity will certainly help us to enhance our work and to accomplish for a better and brighter prospect to come. 

Thank you for reading, may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps to spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen

May it arise and not decrease

But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note

I do not own or infringe any copyright of the picture(s).

Picture(s) courtesy and credit to the rightful distributors and or studios.

Picture(s) is/are intended for editorial use only.