Author Archives: Raven Cypress Wood

The Field of Accumulation: The Yidams

Tsok zhing according to MenriThe Yungdrung Bon Merit Field of the Menri Tradition

In the Yungdrung Bön tradition, the place where the deities and objects of veneration are gathered is called the “Tsok Zhing”, the “Field of Accumulation”. It is also sometimes translated as the “Field of Merit” or the “Merit Field” because what is being accumulated by paying homage and making offerings to this place is merit, or virtue. This is the Merit Field according to the Menri Tradition from a drawing done by the great master and scholar HE Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.

Yidams are deities who have their own individual cycles of practice with the aim of acquiring the qualities and blessings of the yidam being meditated upon. In general, these cycles of practice are centered around an individual retreat in which the practitioner focuses upon self-transformation into the deity, recitation of the deity’s mantra, along with any other ritual or meditation specific to the deity which support the attainment of the deities qualities and blessings. There are yidams specific to a family lineage, to monastic lineages as well as personal yidams. Some of the vows associated with yidam practice are general to all, and some vows are specific to each yidam. Some yidams are represented more than once to signify their different tantric cycles.

#2-4, 14 & 18: The Five Supreme Embodiments of the Father Tantra (See previous post:https://ravencypresswood.com/2016/06/05/the-five-supreme-embodiments/)

1. Zhiwa Künnang Khyappa: This yidam represents all peaceful yidams

2. Trowo Tsochok Khagying: This yidam is an embodiment of the Enlightened Mind of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoche.

3. Walsé Ngampa: This yidam is an embodiment of the Enlightened Body of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoche.

The Yidam Walse Ngampa, Embodiment of the Enl ightened Body

4. Lhago Tokpa: This yidam is an embodiment of the Enlightened Speech of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoche.

5. Sangwa Ying Rol

6. Tséwang Rikdzin: As a long life deity, this yidam is white in color.

7. Magyü Sangchok Tartuk: This yidam is the principal deity of the Mother Tantra and is also known as Tukjé Galpo.

8. Drenpa Namkha

9. Bumpa

10. Rampa

11. Rolpa

12. Dütsi Yungdrung Khyilwa

13. Takla Pudri Marpo

14. Gekho Sangwa Drakchen: This yidam is the embodiment of the Enlightened Qualities of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoche.

15. Trowo Druksé Chempa: This yidam is the Embodiment of the Enlightened Activities of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoche.

16. Meri Walchen Gekho

17. Chidul Yidam Gyatso Trogyal Raksha Khagying

18. Sangpur

19. Walsé Khyungnak Trowo Karpo

20.Wal Khyung Marpo

Yidams of the Other Tantras

#22-#25 The Four Principal Enlightened Ones (See previous post https://ravencypresswood.com/2016/08/20/the-four-principal-enlightened-ones/)

21. Gyepa Kunnang Khyapa

22. Tönpa Shenrap Miwo

23. Sipa Sangpo Bumtri

24. Lhachen Shenlha Ökar

25. Yumchen Satrik Érsang

26. Shenrap Nampar Gyalwa

27. Namdak

28. Jamma

29. Mélha

30. Kéngtsé Lenmé

31. Sherab Mawé Séngé

The Yidam Mawe Senge

32. Dülchok Tönpa Tritsuk Gyalwa

33. Jamma

34. Namdak

35. Mönlam Taye

36. Menlha

37. Künying

38. Gényen Tékpa Lha

39. Jamden

40. Dükhor

41. Künrik

42. Gyalwa Gyatso

43. Namjom

The Yidam Namjom, aka Nampar Jompa, and his emanations.

Posted on August 20, 2017 | Image

Gaining Knowledge

Yungdrung Bon monks during exams at Menri Monastery in Dolanji, India. Photo credit: Unknown

Posted on August 14, 2017 | Image

Lung Kar Monastery – Precious Sanctuary for the Teachings of Shenrap

Ye Ta Lung Kar Gon Shenten Rinchen Ling, aka Lung Kar Monastery. Photo credit: Unknown

The full name of this Yungdrung Bön monastery is Ye Ta Lung Kar Gön Shenten Rinchen Ling, Lung Kar Monastery of Ye Ta, Precious Sanctuary for the Teachings of Shenrap. It is commonly called Lung Kar Monastery and is named for the deity of the region, Lung Kar. The monastery is located in North Eastern Tibet in a region whose population is predominately Bönpo. There are about four thousand people living in the vicinity who support the monastery through donations and services.

In 1715, the chief of the Hor lineage in Ye Ta established a hermitage for the local lama to support religious practice and services for the lama and the surrounding community. However, after the death of the lama, the hermitage was neglected. In 1808, Yu Lung Monastery was established at the very same location. The king of all of the Hor families stated that this monastery should be for all of the various lineages in the Ye Ta region. This monastery began to thrive but was destroyed by an avalanche in 1868.

Years later, the king of the Hor lineages ordered that the monastery should be rebuilt as its destruction by avalanche was seen as quite inauspicious. In 1925 on the 22nd day of the 9th month, according to a prophecy by the 22nd Menri Trizen Yungdrung Wangyal Rnpoche, and with the support of the king and community members, reconstruction of the monastery began. On this day, many important members of the Bön community were present including the tertöns Sang Ngak Lingpa and Khandro Dechen Wangmo. (See previous article about this female treasure revealer https://ravencypresswood.com/2016/07/31/modern-day-khandro-treasure-revealer/ ) On that day, Sang Ngak Lingpa revealed a hidden text from the sacred mountain behind the monastery. He also designated a path to be used by the community for circumambulation of the mountain.

Currently, there are more than fifty monks, teachers and administrators at the monastery. The monks and lamas meet many times each day to practice meditation and perform rituals. Additionally, each month has its own ritual cycle that is performed. For example, during the last month of each lunar year, the complete ritual cycle of the deity Takla Mebar is performed.