Terma (religion) - Prominent Terma Cycles

Prominent Terma Cycles

One of the most famous terma known throughout the world is Bardo Thodol (Tibetan: བར་དོ་ཐོས་གྲོལ་, Wylie: bar do thos grol; "Liberation by Hearing in the State of Bardo"). It is popularly (but incorrectly) known as the Tibetan Book of the Dead. As a set of funerary texts and practices, it had a very specialized utility, and was revealed by Karma Lingpa, who also revealed the Zhitro teachings. Among other famous terma cycles are:

  • Longchen Nyingtig (Heart Essence of Longchenpa) Another well-known Dzogchen cycle of texts, revealed to tertön Jigme Lingpa in the 18th century.
  • Rinchen Terdzod (Precious Treasures) Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye, and Chogyur Dechen Lingpa assembled thousands of Terma treasure texts from the Nyingma tradition all across Tibet, creating the 108 volumes of the Rinchen Terdzod.
  • Jangter (Wylie: Byang gTer, Northern Treatures) revealed by Rigdzin Godem. Features the prominent sub-cycle, the Konchok Chidu revealed by the terton Jatson Nyingpo and widely practiced in Kagyu lineages as well.
  • Chokling Tersar (New Treasures) revealed by Chogyur Dechen Lingpa.

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