Hidden Lands in Himalayan Myth and History

The sbas yul or ‘hidden lands’ of the Himalayas are an important theme in
Tibetan culture, closely linked to the gter ston or ‘treasure finders,’ visionary
lamas who have received increasing attention in recent years. In addition to
their other activities, some of these visionary lamas were engaged in locating,
identifying, and ‘opening’ sbas yul or hidden lands, as well as in writing guidebooks
(gnas yig, lam yig) that explained their significance and special nature.
Western scholarship on the sbas yul goes back to the writings of Jacques
Bacot and others in the early twentieth century, but there has been a considerable
growth in research in recent years, particularly in relation to the bestknown
sbas yul, Padma bkod in southern Tibet. The original view of the sbas
yul as places for spiritual cultivation and of refuge from war and oppressive
regimes has been complicated by more recent studies, some of which are included
in this book.