Teachings, with statues and other objects, that were hidden by Padmasambhava, Yeshe Tsogyal and others in earth, rocks, lakes and trees, or even in more subtle locations such as space or mind for the sake of future generations, and then rediscovered in miraculous ways by incarnations of Padmasambhava's disciples, the treasure discoverers.

Teachings that were hidden, along with statues and other objects, by Padmasambhava, Yeshe Tsogyal, and others in earth, rocks, lakes, and trees, or even in more subtle locations such as space or mind for the sake of future generations, and then rediscovered in miraculous ways by incarnations of Padmasambhava’s disciples, the treasure discoverers. [TLWF, 2011]

These are teachings and sacred objects concealed mainly by Guru Padmasambhava, to be revealed later, at a time when they would be more beneficial for the world and its inhabitants. Guru Rinpoche concealed such treasures in the deepest recesses of the minds of his disciples, who were themselves practitioners of great accomplishment. In addition, although not in every case, the bestowal of these treasure teachings was accompanied by the creation of certain physical objects, often scrolls of yellow paper carrying the symbolic letters of the ḍākinīs , or other writing (sometimes a few words, sometimes entire texts). These texts, together with other items, were entrusted for protection to the ḍākinīs or Dharma protectors and were concealed, not in the ordinary sense, but within the very nature of the elements. According to the inconceivable workings of interdependence, when the appropriate historical period arrives, the disciples to whom a specific teaching was bestowed appear in the world and proceed to unfold the treasure teachings. In this they are often prompted by the discovery of the items just referred to, or else they spontaneously recollect the teaching received many centuries before from the mouth of the guru. The collection of terma is enormous and forms one of the main sources of teaching and practice of the Nyingma school. [TPQ, 2010]

See Treasure [LLB, 2002]

Teachings and sacred objects concealed by Guru Rinpoche and other enlightened beings, to be revealed later, at a time when they would be most beneficial. The Terma teachings are composed in the symbolic letters of the dakinis, or other writing, and consist sometimes of a few words, sometimes of an entire text. The Treasures were concealed in the nature of the elements-water, rocks, etc. - or in the minds of the disciples. When they were with Guru Rinpoche, these disciples fully realized the meaning of these teachings and are for this reason the only ones who can rediscover them in the course of subsequent incarnations. The purpose of the symbolic script is in fact to awaken in the tertön's mind the memory of the teaching entrusted to him or her by Guru Rinpoche. [LLB, 2002]

lit. treasure. Teachings and blessed substances concealed principally by Guru Padmasambhava, to be revealed later, at a time when they would be more beneficial for the world and its inhabitants. [WL, 2010]