H.E. Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche offers cleansing water to a monk at Triten Norbutse Monastery in Nepal. Photo credit: Samaya Producciones.
Within the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition, there are many rituals to imbue water with the power to wash away contaminations and defilements. Because they pollute our individual forces of good luck, vitality, power, etc., they can attract negative circumstances or illness, they can decrease our longevity and increase circumstances of disharmony and conflict. Contaminations and defilements are created through many kinds of behavior and environmental factors such as breaking one’s vows or encouraging others to break their vows, interfering with the spiritual practice or virtuous activity of others, negative astrological constellations, etc. Therefore, each morning upon rising, it is traditional for monks, nuns, genyen, and even ordinary practitioners to perform a cleansing water rite. When the rite is performed by a lama for others, the water is poured onto the crown of the head and then a small amount of the water is given to drink. Having done so, the practitioner imagines that even the most subtle obscurations, contaminations and defilements are completely washed away.
“Anyone affected by contaminated energy, latent karmic potentialities, misfortune or defilements, having recited the mantra into clean water and ritually washed, even karmic defilements will be purified.”
—From Benefits of the Recitation Practice of the Precious Lamp (The MA TRI Mantra)
The MA TRI mantra on a cliff face in Tibet. Photo credit: Unknown.
“Having washed with this water, I clearly imagine that any remaining contamination is washed away because of this medicine.
Without exception, any migrating being will be released from all suffering and misery, and illness and injury will be pacified.
Obstacles along with their causes will be overcome. Both the lifespan and virtuous merit will increase.
Glory and fame will spread, and the ripening of karma will be purified.”
—From The Cleansing-Rite Mantra of Nampar Jompa
“If you recite the mantra to good quality water mixed with powdered, medicinal incense and then cleanse with that water, all illness and sickness caused by negative forces will be pacified and all defilements and contaminations will be purified.”
The high altitude temple of Déden Samten Ling, or in its shortened form simply Samling, has been significant in the preservation of the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition. The main temple was established more than 900 years ago by Yangtön Gyaltsen Rinchen in a remote and mountainous region of Dolpo, Nepal near the Tibetan border. Since that time, this monastery, as well as others in Dolpo, has been maintained by a hereditary line of lamas within the Yangtön family. (For more information about the prestigious Yangtön family lineage, see previous post: https://ravencypresswood.com/2017/05/27/yangton-sherap-gyaltsen/)
According to a text detailing the history of the Yangtön family lineage, some time during the 13th century Yangtön Gyaltsen Rinchen was staying near Mt. Tisé in Western Tibet [Mt. Kailash] when he was visited in a dream by the Bönpo sage and great lama Drenpa Namkha who instructed him to travel to Dolpo and build a temple. Having traveled the long distance to Dolpo and searched throughout its rugged terrain, Yangtön Gyaltsen Rinchen had a series of auspicious dreams while staying in the area of Bijer that convinced him that he had finally found the proper place to construct a Yungdrung Bön temple.
Chortens of Samling. Photo credit: Unknown.
He became the first of many Yangtön lamas at Samling to collect and preserve sacred Yungdrung Bön texts. Because of this, many volumes of scripture have been preserved throughout the course of many centuries. It was during a trip to Samling Monastery in 1961 C.E. that Dr. David Snellgrove discovered a copy of the Zi Ji, a hagiography of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap. He subsequently wrote and published extracts from this text as one of the first English language translations of a Yungdrung Bön text, The Nine Ways of Bön. The Zi Ji volume that he consulted for his translation was estimated to be approximately 400 years old.
Currently, Lama Sherap Tenzin Rinpoche is the head of the monastery. He was born in 1953 C.E. and has received extensive religious training and has been trained in the science of Tibetan medicine.
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The ancient land of Zhang Zhung had a written language with multiple scripts and practiced the Yungdrung Bön teachings. Many Yungdrung Bön texts were originally written in the Zhang Zhung language and later translated into Tibetan, Sanskrit, Chinese, etc. as the teachings dispersed to other countries due to political circumstances. Each Zhang Zhung king had a personal Yungdrung Bön lama that would perform the necessary prayers and rituals as well as act as a spiritual guide.
In the Zhang Zhung language, “gyer” literally means “to recite or to chant with a melody” and it is equivalent to the Tibetan word “bön.” “Gyer ro” means “priest” or more literally “the one who recites” and is the equivalent to the Tibetan word “bönpo.” “Gyer pung” means “lopön” and refers to an educated lama who teaches the scriptures. “Gyer ngor” means “shenrap.”
Gyer Pungs Nangzher Lopo
The great 8th century scholar, Yungdrung Bön lama, and royal priest to the Zhang Zhung king was Gyer Pung Nanghzer Lopo. He is an important lineage holder of the Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyü, the Aural Transmission of Zhang Zhung. Among Yungdrung Bön texts, this scripture was protected by Gyer Pung Nanghzer Lopo and therefore never needed to be hidden due to the political persecution of the Yungdrung Bön religion. Because of that unique circumstance, there was never a gap in these teachings being handed down directly from teacher to student.
Sacred Sky Publications announces the publication of The Heartdrop of Jamma translated and annotated by Raven Cypress Wood. This text, also known as the Jamma Nying Tik is an aural transmission that was given to H.H. 22nd Menri Trizin Sonam Lodro Rinpoche by a manifestation of Jamma known as Khandro Sherap Lo Pélma, the wisdom mother who increases the intellect. In the practice of The Heartdrop of Jamma, each part of the practitioner’s body is transformed into an aspect of Jamma. In that way, one’s entire body becomes the enlightened mandala of the Loving Mother.
“From the syllable RU at each hair of the body manifests the 5,500 primordial shen, the spiritual heirs of Jamma. I prostrate to the Mother of heaven and earth; the mother of the grounds and the paths and the different kinds of authentically established existence, to the mother who gives birth to the Victorious Ones’ spiritual heirs!
From the syllable PA at each hair of the head manifests the limitless hundreds of thousands of Jamma emanations. I prostrate to the Mother who turns back enemies, obstacles, illnesses, and negativity; the Mother who is the glorious guide along the path!“
— From The Heartdrop of Jamma
This booklet includes annotated, color images of Jamma along with her five wisdom manifestations and her eight manifestations that protect from fear. Additionally, there is a brief biography of H.H. 22nd Menri Trizin Sonam Lodro. In order to further support the practice, the booklet concludes with the translation of Removing Obstacles from the Path, another aural transmission of Khandro Sherap Lo Pélma that is often practiced as a daily recitation in the Bönpo community and considered a powerful means of protection and support.
“I pray to the 360 manifestations of Great Jamma. Single Mother for everyone who is without refuge or a protector remove external, internal and secret obstacles which are enemies along the path! Grant your blessings that my wishes will be spontaneously accomplished!”
— Extract from The Heartdrop of Jamma
This publication can be purchased by following the link below:
Nine Ways 
