Hidden Teachings of Tibet: An Explanation of the Terma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism

C'est tres nifty. There may be something hidden in a rock near you. Don't bother looking for it unless you're a Dakini. Or married to one.

The Hidden Teachings of Tibet serves as the core reference work for anyone interested in the terma, or hidden treasure, tradition of Tibet. Tulku Thondup, who has lived in the U.S. since 1980, provides a solid overview of the various types of treasures, how they are concealed and discovered, details on the so-called dakini script in which they are written, and insights into the tertons, or treasure discoverers, themselves. It is all organized in a format that makes for easy reference. Originally published in 1986, the book was issued in paperback in 1997. Tulku Thondup was also a key resource for another valuable book on the terma traditions, Apparitions of the Self by Prof. Janet Gyatso. Reviewer: Lawrence Pintak is a journalist and author who writes frequently on Buddhism and spirituality.

This book is recommended for those who want to get more knowhow on tibet buddhism termas. This book is not for beginners...

Praise & Reviews"A marvelously lucid work on...this little understood traditionof Buddhist yoga."--Yoga World"[A] superb outline of the secret Terma tradition... [It is] erudite, comprehensive, and full of scholarship and insight, yet at the same time is approachable and offers a good overview of Vajrayana as well as specific information on the Termas. It is well-presented and illustrated, and is a title you will read more than once. This is a lot of wisdom packed within its 300 pages..."--Media Resources, October 1999 issue"The tradition of terma should be of more than passing interest to Western students of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions: a great many of us practice at least some such teachings, and sometimes our practice is entirely based upon them. Despite the proliferation of teachings derived from termas, however, there has been an almost total lack of information concerning the genre of terma itself. This book helps to fill that void."--Professor Matthew Kapstein, translator of The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism