Rinchen Terdzod
| Nyingma | |||||||||
| Tibetan name | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tibetan | རྙིང་མ་ | ||||||||
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| Chinese name | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 紅教 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 红教 | ||||||||
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| Transcriptions | |
|---|---|
| Wylie | rnying ma |
| THL | Nyingma |
| Lhasa IPA | [ɲiŋma] |
| Transcriptions | |
|---|---|
| Standard Mandarin | |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Hóngjiào |
The Nyingma tradition is the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism (the other three being the Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug). "Nyingma" literally means "ancient," and is often referred to as Ngangyur (IPA: [ŋaɲɟuː], Tibetan: སྔ་འགྱུར་རྙིང་མ།, Wylie: snga 'gyur rnying ma, "school of the ancient translations" or "old school") because it is founded on the first translations of Buddhist scriptures from Sanskrit into Old Tibetan in the eighth century. The Tibetan alphabet and grammar was created for this endeavour.
The Nyingma particularly believes in hidden terma treasures and place an emphasis on Dzogchen. They also incorporate local religious practices and local deities and elements of shamanism, some of which it shares with Bon. The Nyingma tradition actually comprises several distinct lineages that all trace their origins to the Indian master Padmasambhava. Traditionally, Nyingmapa practice was advanced orally among a loose network of lay practitioners. Monasteries with celibate monks and nuns, along with the practice of reincarnated spiritual leaders are later adaptations.
In modern times, the Nyingma lineage has been centered in Kham and has been associated with the Rime movement.
Traditional Nyingma texts see themselves as a lineage which was established by Samantabhadra (Güntu Sangpo), the “primordial buddha” (Adi Buddha) and who is also the embodiment of the Dharmakāya, the "truth body" of all buddhas. Nyingma also sees Vajradhara (an emanation of Samantabhadra) and other buddhas as teachers of their many doctrines. Samantabhadra's wisdom and compassion spontaneously radiates myriads of teachings, all appropriate to the capacities of different beings and entrusts them to "knowledge holders" (vidyadharas), the chief of which is Dorjé Chörap, who gives them to Vajrasattva and the dakini Légi Wangmoché, who in turn disseminate them among human siddhas. The first human teacher of the tradition was said to be Garab Dorje (b. 55 c.e.), who had visions of Vajrasattva. Padmasambhava is the most famous and revered figure of the early human teachers and there are many legends about him, making it difficult to separate history from myth. Other early teachers include Vimalamitra, Jambel Shé Nyen, Sri Simha, and Jñanasutra. Most of these figures are associated with the Indian region of Oddiyana.
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Wikipedia