Nyingma scriptures
The regular Buddhist canon common to all schools of Tibetan Buddhism consists of a collection of sutras and tantras and their commentaries, consisting of over three hundred and twenty volumes. To this, the canon of the Nyingma lineage adds the collection of the Hundred Thousand Nyingma Tantras known as “Nyingma Gyübum,” and the collection of revealed scriptures, known as Terma.
The Terma, or the Treasure Transmission Lineage scriptures, consists of innumerable numbers of texts, such as The Great Treasury Of Precious Termas, “Rinchen Terdzö” compiled by Jamgon Kongtrul the Great, Yonten Gyatso or Lodro Thaye (1813-1899). There have been numerous great Nyingmapa masters throughout the centuries, who have contributed in writing commentaries, instructions, dohas (spontaneous vajra songs), sadhanas and other writings in response to the needs of their students. Some of the most renowned later contributors to this collection include Rongzom Mahapandita (1012-1088), Kunkhyen Longchen Ramjam (1308-1363), Rikdzin Jikme Lingpa (1729-1798), Dzogchen Patrul (1808-1887), Lama Mipham (1846-1912), and Jikme Trinley Öser (1745-1821). The writings of these masters continue to be closely studied and practiced.
