Each year in every Bönpo monastery, the 1st-7th days of the 8th lunar month is a time of observing strict vows of discipline and ascetic behavior as practiced by the founder of the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition, Lord Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwo. In 2023, these dates coincide with September 15th-22nd.

This is the ritual of Ka Tup, ascetic fasting. Specifically, there are three kinds of ascetic fasting. Fasting through the body which involves limiting food and drink, and being diligent to avoid non-virtue of the body such as physically harming others, stealing, and so on. Fasting through the speech involves stopping meaningless speech, gossip, harsh words, and so on. And, fasting through the mind which involves stopping thoughts driven by the five poisons especially thoughts of harming others.

During these seven days, the monks and nuns will get up before sunrise, go to the temple, and prostrate in the presence of the images of the thousand buddhas. Then after breakfast, they will gather in their respective temples and receive explanations and advice according to monastic discipline, the proper way to dress and conduct themselves, the difference between monks’ and nuns’ vows, and so on. After the final meal at mid-day, they will circumambulate the temples and recite the DU TRI SU mantra of purification. They continue these practices until 11 p.m. and then rise again at 4 a.m. the next day.

When Lord Tönpa Shenrap was 31 years old, he took a vow to live as an ascetic. He removed his princely robes and jewels and ritually bathed with lustral water in order to show a method of purification. He left all of his possessions, associates, and disciples to practice alone in isolation. Some of his disciples supported his decision but many others turned away from him to continue their worldly affairs. The day after his public vow at dawn, he arose and recited the names of the thousand buddhas. He then went to the great temple of Shampo Lhatsé. At the first light of sunrise, he circumambulated and recited the names of the thousand buddhas. When the sun has fully risen, he recited the three essence mantras of the Yungdrung Bön. After that, he wrote down the rules of disciple for those who receive ordination. He decided which foods he would and would not allow for himself and then he transformed into a shang shang bird and flew into the sky.

He practiced asceticism for a total of three years. The first year, during the daytime he practiced in the outward form of a bird. Each day, he only took a single grain of rice that was offered by the swan king, and a single dewdrop of water. At night, he assumed the form of a human being. During that year, he practiced virtue and taught the gods that dwell at the summit of Mt. Meru. The second year, during the daytime, he practiced in the outward form of a monkey. Each day, he only took a single fruit that was offered by the monkey king. During that year, he practiced virtue and ministered to the Four Great Kings and the multitude of spirits that were their associates. The third year, he practiced in the outward form of a human being. Each day he only took one small vegetable that was offered by the Shang shang king [a bird with a human head], a single leaf containing the essence of honey that was offered by the bee king, and a palmful of water that was offered by the turtle king.

Thus, he demonstrated a method of overcoming desire and attachment. He did not need to do this for himself because he was already an enlightened being. However, he showed this example for the benefit of others an example for others. Living in this way, Tönpa Shenrap became very emaciated. The demon prince who had previously been creating great obstacles for him spied on him to assess his practice. At seeing his condition, the demon was overwhelmed and perplexed at why such a powerful being would choose such a course of action. To this, Buddha Tönpa Shenrap began to teach the demon prince and his troops the truth of impermanence and how desire and attachment cause great suffering. He then instructed them in the skillful method of renunciation a way to overcome suffering and misery and attain freedom and happiness. In this way, he completed his 9th deed of renouncing cyclic existence and showing the path of renunciation.

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