Search Results: Nyingma
The Nyingma (rnying ma) -- literally the "ancient" -- is the oldest tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The origin of the Nyingma teachings is credited to Padmasambhava, a tantric ritual specialist invited to Tibet in the 8th century to subjugate native deities that were obstructing the dissemination of Buddhism. Padmasambhava and other Indian masters such as Vimalamitra, and select Tibetan translators such as Vairocana, propagated the tradition's primary teaching, Dzogchen (rdzogs chen), a tantric system that has been adopted to varying degree by most other traditions. The Indic scriptures that were translated in the 8th and 9th centuries and the teachings by the masters of that era have come to be known as the "Kama" (bka' ma), or spoken word tradition. Since at least the 12th century Nyingma teachers known as terton (gter ston), or "treasure revealers" have produced new scriptures said to have been concealed by Padmasambhava or others for the benefit of future eras. The Nyingma maintains both lay and monastic traditions, with six mother monasteries: Dorje Drak (rdo rje brag) and Mindroling (smin grol gling) in Tibet, and Katok (kaH thog), Palyul (dpal yul), Dzogchen (rdzogs chen) and Shechen (zhe chen) in Kham.