The hidden treasures of Tibet

Throughout the history of the world, writings and material objects have been miraculously discovered. Termas, Dharma treasures, are one such phenomenon: these are texts and objects that have been hidden, only to be rediscovered at a suitable time by so-called tertöns - realized masters. Termas are teachings that represent a profound and authentic tantric form of Buddhist training. Over the centuries, the tertöns have found thousands of scriptural volumes and sacred objects hidden by Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, in the earth, in the water, in the mountains and rocks, in the sky and in the mind. Founded in the 8th century, the Nyingma school, the oldest of the four Tibetan schools, has one of the richest and most vibrant terma traditions. In addition to an introduction to Tibetan Buddhism and the Terma tradition, this book contains a translation of the most important and detailed Tibetan text on this subject: The Miraculous Ocean by the Third Dodrupchen Rinpoche (1865-1926). In addition to detailed explanations, this text is supplemented by a comprehensive appendix, including a description of a tantric initiation, a list of the texts in the collection of the Old Tantras (rNying Ma rGyud 'Bum) and the canonical literature (bKa' Ma), a list of all tertöns, as well as an extensive, specific glossary. In The Hidden Treasures of Tibet, Tulku Thondup presents the multi-layered mystical tradition of Tibet in great detail and knowledgeably - a tradition that has now spread from Tibet to the whole world and continues to inspire countless people today. Tulku Thondup is a respected scholar and prolific author who has written and translated numerous works on Tibetan Buddhism. He was born in Golok, East Tibet, where he was educated at Dodrup Monastery until his escape in 1958. In India he studied and taught at Lucknow and Visva Bharati University and has lived in the USA since 1980. (www.tulkuthondup.com)