HE Menri Ponlop Rinpoche offers the mandala to HH 34th Menri Trizin during his enthronement ceremony at Menri Monastery in Dolanji, India. Photo credit: Unknown
Author Archives: Raven Cypress Wood
The Twelve Animals of Tibetan Astrology: The Dog
In Tibetan astrology, there is a twelve-year cycle. Each of these years is characterized by a different animal and associated with one of the five elements. Therefore, a full cycle of the twelve animals being associated with each of the five elements is sixty years. The twelve animals according to the Yungdrung Bön texts are the Rat, Elephant, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Horse, Snake, Sheep, Garuda, Monkey, Dog and Pig. Each animal is associated with a specific element for its life-force as well as a specific direction which is determined by the life-force element. Not only are these twelve animals associated with a particular year, they are also associated with particular months, days and hours.
Feb 16, 2018 begins the Tibetan New Year, or Losar, and the year of the Earth Dog. People born during a Dog year will have an emphasis of the specific qualities associated with the symbol of the Dog. (These years correspond with the Tibetan lunar calendar and begin sometime between late January and early April.) In astrology, the element which governs the life-force of the Dog is Earth and its positive direction is Northwest. So, if a Dog person wanted to strengthen their life-force, they would focus upon strengthening the element of Earth internally and externally. Because the positive direction is Northwest, facing this direction while meditating, engaging in healing practices or just relaxing and taking deep breaths is beneficial.
In general as an astrological symbol, the Dog person is loyal, straightforward, and honest. Because of their desire to offer their help and support, they are diligent and responsible with tasks. The Dog person takes great care in all that they do and is methodical and precise. Because of this, they do not like to be rushed in completing tasks or making decisions. Others can become frustrated at the Dog person’s seeming inertia when actually they are diligently analyzing the situation in order to be certain in making the correct decision. This tendency towards analysis and judgement can be in excess and lead the Dog person to overly analyze situations and consequently fall into despair or pessimism. For this reason, the Dog person can be seen as quite serious. However, they do not take their loved ones for granted and their relationships are long-lasting.
The Dog’s soul day is Monday and its life-force day is Wednesday. These are the best days for beginning new projects and activities that are meant to increase or develop something. The obstacle day is Thursday. This day is best for purification and letting things go. It is not a favorable day for beginning new activities.
Dog years include: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, and 2018
If you were born during a previous year of the Dog, this year as well as other Dog years are considered a time of vulnerability to obstacles. This same astrological principal applies for all of the other eleven animal signs during their associated year. Therefore, it is recommended to engage in practices that support vitality, good fortune and spiritual merit such as hanging prayer flags, having a soul and life-force retrieval ritual performed, restoring any deterioration or violation of one’s spiritual commitments or any damaged relationship with one’s spiritual brothers and sisters, and/or performing prayers and rituals to remove obstacles. In general, making an effort to engage more with virtuous activities of body, speech and mind and committing to engage less with non-virtuous activities is supportive. According to the words of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché, the practice of developing sincere unbiased and unlimited compassion is the greatest of all protections.
A common prayer within the Yungdrung Bön tradition that is used to remove obstacles is the Bar Che Lam Sel, The Spontaneous Wish-fulfillment of Removing Obstacles from the Path. The English, Spanish and Portuguese translations of this prayer are offered free for personal use on the Nine Ways Publications page. Click on the Publications tab above and scroll down to the download links for the prayer.
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Offering Light
“So that I, and all other sentient beings without exception, may purify obscurations, perfect the accumulations, and look upon the divine face of the deity, I present this victory banner of butter lamps to the assembly of external and internal peaceful and wrathful deities who have gone beyond bliss.
Performing mainly for our kind mothers and fathers, who are the sentient beings within the three realms of cyclic existence, and with compassion for those in the realm of the bardo, having purified all negative actions, karmic potentialities and defilements, may they be liberated from the places within the six realms of cyclic existence! May they reach the Five Families of Those who have gone beyond bliss!”
From Raising a Victory Banner of Butter Lamps found within The Tantra of the Assembly of Peaceful and Wrathful Deities.
Tibetan translation by Raven Cypress Wood ©2017
New Book Announcement
SO DRUM AH KAR MU LA TING NAM Ö DU MU YÉ TSÉ NI DZA
~Essence mantra of the deity of longevity, Lama Tséwang Rikdzin
In the Yungdrung Bön tradition, the longevity practice of Lama Tséwang Rikdzin is foremost among the many longevity practices within the religious tradition. Indestructible: The Longevity Practice of Lama Tséwang Rikdzin by Raven Cypress Wood contains the English translation of the longevity practice of Lama Tséwang Rikdzin from the Tséwang Jarima Chok Dü scripture. From the foreword written by Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche:
“The wisdom of Tséwang Rikdzin and the practices associated with this teaching can help us retrieve, extend, and enhance our life force: healing environmental, physical, emotional, and energetic imbalances in our lives. Strengthening and extending our lifespan provides more time for our spiritual development and for serving and benefiting other sentient beings.”
The Tibetan syllable NI, the syllable of a human being, and support for the vital life force. Calligraphy by Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche.
Lama Tséwang Rikdzin is the embodiment of the Five Buddha Families and can therefore bestow any quality or wisdom that is needed. In this particular practice, the attainment of longevity, physical health, vitality, and a complete and healthy soul are emphasized.
“Lama Tséwang Rikdzin is a tülku whose heart emanations are sent forth throughout the ten directions. He has power over longevity and protects the lifespan and prosperity of all practitioners.”
Excerpt from ‘Indestructible: The Longevity Practice of Lama Tséwang Rikdzin”
This book is suitable for both those familiar and those unfamiliar with the practice. It includes information regarding the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition, Lama Tséwang Rikdzin, and the root text which contains the longevity practice. The book is available as a hardback edition with color images and text, or a black and white paperback edition. It can purchased through the Sacred Sky Press online store at: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/SacredSky
“We pray for the mending of all of our lifespan that has been torn.
We pray to be reunited with all of our lifespan that has been separated from us.
We pray for all of our lifespan that has been dispersed to be gathered back together.
May our prosperity and our lifespan be deathless and indestructible!”
Excerpt from ‘Indestructible: The Longevity Practice of Lama Tséwang Rikdzin”
Offering Sacred Sound
Nuns of Rayna Menling at Tashi Menri Monastery in Dolanji, India.
Nine Ways 