His Holiness 34th Menri Trizin Rinpoche receives blessings and transmissions from Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche at Triten Norbutse Monastery in Nepal March 2018. Photo credit: Unknown.
Author Archives: Raven Cypress Wood
May Everyone have Success and Prosperity!
Within the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition, the powerful wealth deities act to protect and increase the success, wealth, merit, health, and positive circumstances of Yungdrung Bön practitioners. Kubera, also known as Blue Dzambhala or Dzam Ngön, is one of these wealth deities. Along with propitiation and mantra recitation, Kubera is offered sang, smoke purification and offering, in the morning, and torma in the evening.
“In the midst of a mound of many kinds of wish-fulfilling jewels, and seated upon a magically emanated turquoise-colored horse, is the miraculously born Kubera. His body is a brilliant, dark-blue color. He wears a helmet of crystal upon his head, and a coat of armor upon his body. In his right hand, he lifts a golden sword that rains down precious things, and clears away obstacles for Bön practitioners. In his left hand, he holds a mongoose. From the mouth of the mongoose, precious jewels overflow and come forth. Without exception, he clears away the suffering and misery of poverty for all sentient beings. Above his right and left shoulders, two iron hawks soar and circle overhead. Two tigers leap in front of him, and behind, two lions run. His inner retinue consists of one hundred-thousand deities who resemble him, and his outer retinue consists of millions of deities who surround him.”
~From A Storehouse of Treasure, the Main Practice of Blue Dzambhala
According to the Yungdrung Bön religious calendar, the lunar dates each month that are specified for Kubera propitiation and practice are: 4, 8, 11, 13, 15,17, 27, and 30.
Tibetan translation by Raven Cypress Wood ©2015 All Rights Reserved
Great Generosity
Abbott of Triten Norbutse Monastery, Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche, offers a mandala of the universe to His Holiness 34th Menri Trizin Rinpoche. Photo credit: Unknown.
Buddha Tönpa Shenrap’s Tenth Deed: The Deed of Complete Solitude
Lord Tonpa Shenrap Miwoche in his role as an ordained monk with the name Tritsuk Gyalwa.
In order to give the example of how to practice, Lord Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché retreated to the isolated Nine-leveled Yungdrung Mountain deep in the forest. His disciples followed him to the mountain and naturally formed two groups of practitioners. The first group was further divided into two groups led by Tsünpa Khyappa and the Buddha’s son, Tobu Bumsang. To these two groups, Lord Shenrap taught the highest view of the single sphere, dzogchen. This is like the sun that dawns and immediately dispels the darkness. Therefore, this is known as a direct path to realization.
The second group of practitioners were led by his eldest daughter, Shensa Nechen. To these practitioners, he taught the wisdom of awareness and the purification of obscurations. This is like the moon that increases by stages until it is fully illuminated. Therefore, this is known as a gradual path to realization.
Lord Shenrap gave instructions for these disciples to remain in solitude and practice in an undistracted and hidden way, like a wounded deer. In this way, the Enlightened Lord and his disciples remained in solitude on the Nine-leveled Yungdrung Mountain for many years.
Raven Cypress Wood ©All Rights Reserved. No content, in part or in whole, is allowed to be used without direct permission from the author.
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The Sharp Point of Wisdom
Monks debating at Nangzhig Monastery. Photo credit: Unknown
Nine Ways 