Tertön

Tertön () 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 incarnations of Guru Rinpoche's students. According to generally accepted history, the rediscovering of terma began with the first tertön, Sangye Lama (1000–1080). 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:" Nyangral Nyima Özer (1124–1192) Guru Chöwang (1212-1270), also known as Guru Chökyi Wangchuk Dorje Lingpa (1346–1405) Pema Lingpa (1445/50–1521) 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]] Some influential female tertöns have all been considered to be emanations of Yeshe Tsogyal: Jomo Menmo (13th century), the consort of Guru Chöwang Mingyur Paldrön Sera Khandro (1892–1940) Other influential female tertöns include: Tāre Lhamo (1938–2003) Ayu Khandro (Long Life Dakini, 1839–1953) File:Sera_Khandro_Kunzang_Dekyong_Wangmo.jpeg|[[Kunzang Dekyong Wangmo|Sera Khandro]] File:Ayu-khandro.jpg|[[Ayu Khandro]] File:Tare_Lhamo_IMG_0254.