Revelation in Tibetan Buddhism: The Terma Tradition
Public Talk with Slide Show by Michael Katz, PhD
FREE
Donations welcome
Friday, November 17th: 6:30pm-8pm
Location: 16 Center St, Studio 527, 5th floor, Northampton, MA
TERMA also referred to, as "hidden treasures" are texts of mystical revelation revealed to visionaries called Tertons. These extraordinary teachings serve the function of refreshing, and reinvigorating the Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
Michael Katz has a doctoral degree in psychology from New York University. He is a long time student of Tibetan Buddhism and has studied with many of the great masters of this age.
He is the co-author and editor of the book "Dream Yoga and the Practice of Natural Light" with Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. He is also the author of the book "Tibetan Dream Yoga the Royal Road to Enlightenment" as well as the novel "The White Dolphin."
Michael a Dzogchen Community Santi Maha Sangha (SMS) meditation instructor was authorized to teach dream yoga and meditation by Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. He has subsequently taught for two decades in more than 30 countries internationally as well as Harvard University, Amherst College, Tibet House and other institutions and organizations.
He was featured in the discovery channel's program "the power of dreams " and the first "gateways of the mind" conference in London, as well as a documentary movie called "Tamara's sacred journey" after leading a group to sacred caves in Tibet in 2010.
Padmasambhava, also called “Guru Rinpoche,“ born miraculously in the 8th century, was fully enlightened and is considered the father of Tibetan Buddhism. He prophesied of a future age when spirituality would wane. Asked by one of his close disciples, when is the beginning of the Dharma-ending age, Guru Rinpoche replied;
"When the iron bird flies and the horses run on wheels, the Tibetan people will be scattered like ants across the world, and the Dharma will come to the land of the red men (the West)."
Anticipating the degeneration of the pure teachings of the Buddha. Guru Rinpoche hid TERMA, also referred to as "hidden treasures," and prophesied the exact location and time they would be revealed.
The texts of mystical revelation and revealed to visionaries, are principally of two types. Earth Termas including sacred physical objects, and mind Termas including those revealed in extraordinary dreams. The extraordinary places in Tibet where Padmasambhava practiced with his consort Yeshe Tsogyal, often sites where Termas were hidden, are considered amongst the most sacred pilgrimage places in Tibet.
In anticipation of the upcoming event with Michael Katz, you may be interested in the three books from the Shang Shung Institute, USA Book Store:
