Author Archives: Raven Cypress Wood

Consecrating a Sacred image

statue with group photo of lamas

On September 1, 2014 in Amdo, Tibet, an official consecration ceremony was held for the newly erected statue of the Lord of the teachings, the Great Lama Drenpa Namkha.  The sacred image was erected at the Yungdrung Bön monastery of Gamal Gomchen which is the largest in the area.  The consecration was performed by the great abbot Sherap Yungdrung Wangyal Rinpoche, Ponlop Menri Geshe Sherap Tharchin, the supreme tulku of Dangri Do Ngak Shedrup Gyaltsen and many other lamas and monks from the five main monasteries and the thirteen branch monasteries.  Additionally, there were many well known and respected Yungdrung Bön practitioners present.

The supreme tulku of Dangri Do Ngak Shedrup Gyaltsen

The sacred statue was erected by the supreme tulku of Dangri, Do Ngak Shedrup Gyaltsen, for universal benefit and especially for the benefit of the Amdo region.  This is the first time that such a statue of the Great Lama Drenpa Namkha has been erected in this area of Tibet.

Official Consecration Ceremony for the Sacred Image of Lachen Drenpa Namkha

The sacred image was empowered with countless sacred and blessed objects from knowledge holders and superior beings of the past from both Zhang Zhung and Tibet.  In particular, these countless sacred objects included a collection of objects of support for enlightened Body, Speech, and Mind from the great masters of this area of Amdo.

Countless blessed and sacred items to be placed inside the sacred image

The original article appeared on the Tibetan language website Himalayan Bon.  You can read the full article and see more photos by following the link:http://www.himalayabon.com/news/2014-09-05/451.html#jtss-fb

 

Liberation Through Touch

Tibetan ga'u

A Tibetan style locket called a ‘ga’u’. Photo credit: Transhimalayan Heritage Arts

Because of the Enlightened Teacher Tonpa Sherap’s immeasurable compassion, there are teachings and methods of help available according to each individual’s ability and capacity.  Included are methods of liberation using each of the five senses such as the well known “Liberation through Hearing” texts.  Similarly, there are sacred things that are meant to be held or worn close to the body and liberate through touch.  Often, mantras and texts such as these are carried on the body within a special container.

Sounds of Space

Tibetan ltrs assoc with space element     Each of the letters of the Tibetan alphabet are associated with one of the five elements according to their inherent sound.  The letters associated with the space element are AH, KA, KHA, GA NGA, and HA.

An Offering of Beauty

torma with butter ornamentsWhite ornaments made from butter decorate a ritual offering torma.

The Elegant Yungdrung Bön Chorten

The Elegant Yungdrung Bön Chorten located in the village of Dunai in Dolpo, Nepal. Photo credit: Unknown

According to the Zi Ji, there are one hundred and twenty different kinds of physically manifested chorten (Sanskrit: stupa) within the Yungdrung Bön tradition.  The ritual preparation, dimensions, materials, and ornamentation are all defined in great detail.  Each of these aspects has multiple meanings.  The chorten physically represents the path to enlightenment from the base to the flame of wisdom of absolute reality at the very top.

The Enlightened Teacher and founder of the Yungdrung Bön tradition, Tönpa Shenrap Miwoche, gave detailed instructions for the very first Elegant Yungdrung Bön Chorten to be built during the course of teaching the Fifth Way of Yungdrung Bön, The Way of the Virtuous Lay Practitioner.