Every Year at Menri Monastery in India there is a week-long retreat and ritual for the enlightened protector Sipé Gyalmo, who is one of the main protectors of Menri Monastery and the practitioners of Yungdrung Bön. During this time, a hundred thousand food offering tormas together with a collection of other offerings are presented to her and her vast retinue followed by supplications and requests for the bestowal of protection and prosperity, the removal of obstacles and the blessing of harmonious circumstances for all sentient beings. In 2026, this sacred ritual will take place September 21st-27th.
To make a donation towards the ritual for Sipé Gyalmo, follow this link to the donation page of Khyungdzong Wödsel Ling: http://kwling.org/bon/bum-tsok-offering/ This is the North American center for His Eminence Menri Lopon Yangton Trinley Nyima Rinpoche. The full amount of every donation will be sent to Menri Monastery and designated for the ritual. This donation can be dedicated for those that are ill, in danger, have recently passed away, or for yourself. If you are unable to donate monetarily, by rejoicing in the donations of others and the performance of the ritual, you also receive merit. One can also participate by engaging in Sipé Gyalmo practice, mantra recitation, engaging in virtue and avoiding acts of non-virtue during the week-long ritual.
Who is the Queen of Existence, Sipé Gyalmo?
In the Yungdrung Bön tradition, the Queen of Existence Sipé Gyalmo is one of the primary protectors of the religious doctrine and its followers. She is an enlightened being who manifests in countless ways. In her Dzogku form, she manifests with a dark blue body, in a fierce stance with three faces, one hundred heads of various animals, thousands of arms holding weapons and other wrathful objects, hundreds of legs, and surrounded by unimaginable blazing flames.
Her body emanations are the six goddesses who watch over existence throughout the day and night. These manifestations are (1) the white goddess who watches over existence during dawn, (2) the golden goddess that watches during sunrise, (3) the red goddess that watches during midday, (4) the maroon goddess that watches during sunset, (5) the black goddess that watches during evening, and (6) the dark blue goddess that watches over existence during midnight.
Her tülku manifestations appear with a dark blue body with three faces, six arms, and riding either a black or red mule. However, she can manifest in whatever way is needed in order to provide protection and support.
Excerpt from The Complete Accomplishment of Golden Libations for the Assembly of Bön Guardians and Protectors within Sacred Smoke: The Ancient Ritual of Fumigation and Offering in the Yungdrung Bön Religious Tradition by Raven Cypress Wood“Especially, manifesting from the essence of space, the state of the unmoving nature of mind of Küntu Zangmo, for the purpose of protecting the enlightened teachings of the Yungdrung Bön is the lord of the boundary between past and future, the Queen of Existence Sipé Gyalmo.
You are Dédro Sangwé Yum, the secret Mother who guides beings to bliss.
Your Body emanations are the wrathful goddesses of the six times.
Your Speech emanations are the four queens who rule over the four seasons.
Your Mind emanations are the female demons who are the nyen queens of existence.”
Excerpt from The Alphabetical Praise of the Supreme Mother Sipé Gyalmo within Sacred Smoke by Raven Cypress Wood“EMAHO!
Mother of the vast expanse of the Bönku, which is primordially pure and free from elaboration,
in order to establish the Bön teachings in the Land of Snow,
merely by calling out to you Single Mother Sipé Gyalmo, wherever you are,
please come!”
UPCOMING EVENTS
See the Calendar of Events for other opportunities to practice together online, online classes and trainings, and auspicious days throughout the month: CALENDAR OF EVENTS
JUST PUBLISHED!
Sacred Smoke: The Ancient Ritual of Fumigation and Offering in the Yungdrung Bön Religious Tradition is now published by Nine Ways Press and is in paperback AND eBook for the first time! PLUS, additional prayers and translations have been added, and the Tibetan language section has been reformatted for easier reading. You can check out the table of contents here. The print book is available here: Sacred Smoke Paperback. The eBook can be purchased here: Sacred Smoke eBOOK.
Coming Soon! Nine Ways Press is currently preparing Forty-three Trainings for an Enlightened Mind to be published as an eBook. Also, a Spanish language translation of the book is on its way.
New Items Have Arrived in the Nine Ways Shop
- Traditional Bönpo flat bells, also called sil nyen or shang, were given by Buddha Tönpa Shenrap in order to support the practices of his Yungdrung Bön tradition. They are one of the oldest sacred instruments.
- Good quality cloth shoulder bags made in Nepal.
For more details or to order, go to the Nine Ways Shop webpage.
Aid for Nepal
Looking for a trustworthy organization that is collecting funds in order to support the survivors of the devastating flash flood in Nepal? His Eminence Menri Pönlop Yangtön Trinley Nyima Rinpoche has asked his North American organization, Khyungdzong Wödsel Ling, to collect donations that he will personally take to Nepal and hand deliver to those in need. If you would like to donate, you can do so by following this link: KWL Funds for Nepal. When making a donation, be sure to indicate that it is for Nepal in the memo field. The donate button is on the left side of the page.
Nine Ways is supported by a mandala of kind and generous donors. Because of their generosity, the work continues.
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Have a Question about Something You Read? Ask Raven.
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