Tertön (Tibetan: གཏེར་སྟོན་, Wylie: gter ston)[1] 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.[2] 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 incarnations of Guru Rinpoche's students.[3]
According to generally accepted history, the rediscovering of terma began with the first tertön, Sangye Lama (1000–1080).
The Five Tertön Kingsedit
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:"
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.[5]
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.[6]
Tertön practicesedit
Consorts, with whom they practice sexual yoga or karmamudra to accelerate and enhance their capacity for realization, are thought to be very important to tertöns.[7] 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.[8]
Yet, even very realized female practitioners bring forth terma, sometimes with an living male consort and sometimes alone. DakiniSera 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”.[9]
Referencesedit
^. Diamond Way Buddhism Worldwide. Rangjung Yeshe Translations & Publications. 1996. Archived from the original on 2010-03-28. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
^Gobel, Detlev and Knoll, Claudia, "The Tantric Consorts and Children of the 15th Karmapa, Buddhism Today, Spring/Summer 2020 issue 45 p 41
^Gobel, Detlev and Knoll, Claudia, "The Tantric Consorts and Children of the 15th Karmapa, Buddhism Today, Spring/Summer 2020 issue 45 p 41
^Gayley, Holly (2007). Who Was Yeshe Tsogyal? Lions Roar Magazine.
^Gobel, Detlev and Knoll, Claudia, "The Tantric Consorts and Children of the 15th Karmapa, Buddhism Today, Spring/Summer 2020 issue 45 pp. 41-42
^"The Fifth Lelung Jedrung, Lobzang Trinle". The Treasury of Lives. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
^Courtesans and Tantric Consorts: Sexualities in Buddhist Narrative by Serinity Young; p155
^Fremantle, Francesca (2001). Luminous Emptiness: Understanding the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Boston: Shambhala Publications, Inc. ISBN1-57062-450-X. p. 19.
^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. ISBN086171041X
Trungpa, Chögyam (2005). Interview With Karma Senge About Kyere Gompa. Accessed May 22, 2021.
External linksedit
Biographies of Treasure Revealers (Tertons) on The Treasury of Lives
Media related to Tertöns at Wikimedia Commons
February 09, 2024
tertön, tibetan, གཏ, wylie, gter, ston, term, within, tibetan, buddhism, meaning, person, discoverer, ancient, hidden, texts, terma, many, tertöns, considered, incarnations, twenty, five, main, disciples, padmasambhava, guru, rinpoche, foresaw, dark, time, tib. Terton Tibetan གཏ ར ས ན Wylie gter ston 1 is a term within Tibetan Buddhism meaning a person who is a discoverer of ancient hidden texts or terma Many tertons 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 2 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 Tertons 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 3 Contents 1 Prominent Nyingma tertons 1 1 The Five Terton Kings 1 2 Female Tertons 1 3 Other Nyingma tertons 2 In other Tibetan Buddhist schools 3 Terton practices 4 References 5 External linksProminent Nyingma tertons editAccording to generally accepted history the rediscovering of terma began with the first terton Sangye Lama 1000 1080 The Five Terton Kings edit Throughout the centuries many Nyingmapas were known as tertons Five of them were widely recognized as very important ones and called the five terton kings Nyangral Nyima Ozer 1124 1192 Guru Chowang 1212 1270 also known as Guru Chokyi Wangchuk Dorje Lingpa 1346 1405 Pema Lingpa 1445 50 1521 Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo 1820 1892 nbsp Nyangrel Nyima Ozer nbsp Guru Chowang nbsp Dorje Lingpa nbsp Pema Lingpa nbsp Jamyang Khyentse WangpoFemale Tertons edit Some influential female tertons have all been considered to be emanations of Yeshe Tsogyal 4 Jomo Menmo 13th century the consort of Guru Chowang Mingyur Paldron Sera Khandro 1892 1940 Other influential female tertons include Tare Lhamo 1938 2003 Ayu Khandro Long Life Dakini 1839 1953 nbsp Sera Khandro nbsp Ayu Khandro nbsp Tare LhamoOther Nyingma tertons edit Other important Nyingma tertons include Zhangton Tashi Dorje 1097 1167 revealed the Vima Nyingthig Rinchen Lingpa 1295 1375 Sangye Lingpa 1340 1396 Rigdzin Godem 1307 1408 revealed the Northern Treasures Karma Lingpa 14th century revealed the Kar gling zhi khro which includes the Bardo Thodrol Thangtong Gyalpo 1385 1510 Ratna Lingpa 1403 1471 Kunkyong Lingpa 1408 1489 Tennyi Lingpa Padma Tsewang Gyalpo 1480 1535 Lhatsun Namkha Jikme 1597 c 1650 Jatson Nyingpo 1585 1656 revealed the Konchok Chidu Namcho Mingyur Dorje 1645 1667 known for the Namcho Sky Dharma Terdak Lingpa 1646 1714 Jigme Lingpa 1729 1798 known for the Longchen Nyingthig Orgyen Chokgyur Lingpa 1829 1870 Dudjom Lingpa 1835 1904 revealed part of the Dudjom Tersar Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje 10 June 1904 17 January 1987 reincarnation of Dudjom Lingpa revealed part of the Dudjom Tersar Jigme Phuntsok 1933 7 January 2004 nbsp Ridzin Godem nbsp Ratna Lingpa nbsp Jigme Lingpa nbsp Dudjom Lingpa nbsp Dudjom Rinpoche nbsp Jigme PhuntsokIn other Tibetan Buddhist schools editThe 15th Karmapa Khakyab Dorje of the Karma Kagyu Lineage was a terton 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 terton 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 5 Another noteworthy terton is Tsangpa Gyare founder of the Drukpa Lineage 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 terton 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 6 Terton practices editConsorts with whom they practice sexual yoga or karmamudra to accelerate and enhance their capacity for realization are thought to be very important to tertons 7 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 tertons 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 terton s complementary energy whether male or female must be present 8 Yet even very realized female practitioners bring forth terma sometimes with an living male consort and sometimes alone Dakini Sera Khandro is a notable example of a woman terton Although the authenticity and value of a terma may be questioned or debated tertons 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 9 References edit Tibetan English Dictionary of Buddhist Teaching amp Practice Diamond Way Buddhism Worldwide Rangjung Yeshe Translations amp Publications 1996 Archived from the original on 2010 03 28 Retrieved 2011 02 05 Gobel Detlev and Knoll Claudia The Tantric Consorts and Children of the 15th Karmapa Buddhism Today Spring Summer 2020 issue 45 p 41 Gobel Detlev and Knoll Claudia The Tantric Consorts and Children of the 15th Karmapa Buddhism Today Spring Summer 2020 issue 45 p 41 Gayley Holly 2007 Who Was Yeshe Tsogyal Lions Roar Magazine Gobel Detlev and Knoll Claudia The Tantric Consorts and Children of the 15th Karmapa Buddhism Today Spring Summer 2020 issue 45 pp 41 42 The Fifth Lelung Jedrung Lobzang Trinle The Treasury of Lives Retrieved 2021 10 19 Courtesans and Tantric Consorts Sexualities in Buddhist Narrative by Serinity Young p155 Fremantle Francesca 2001 Luminous Emptiness Understanding the Tibetan Book of the Dead Boston Shambhala Publications Inc ISBN 1 57062 450 X p 19 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 ISBN 086171041X Trungpa Chogyam 2005 Interview With Karma Senge About Kyere Gompa Accessed May 22 2021 External links editBiographies of Treasure Revealers Tertons on The Treasury of Lives nbsp Media related to Tertons at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Terton amp oldid 1151785950, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
