Sip Chok Yungdrung Bon Temple complex in Tarap, Dolpo prior to the fire

On March 8, 2016, the Yungdrung Bön temple of Deden Püntsok Ling, located in Dolpo, Nepal was completely destroyed by fire.  This temple complex is located in the Sip Chok area of Dho Tarap and is commonly referred to as the Sip Chok Gompa or the Bön Tarap Gompa.  The temple is run by the Yangton family and is headed by a Yangton lama.  He is a householder and tantric practitioner.  Responsibilities for the temple are traditionally handed down to sons, nephews or grandsons.

Sip Chok Yungdrung Bon Temple complex in Tarap, Dolpo after the fire

Because the head lama’s house is located some distance from the temple, the fire was not noticed until the flames were visibly engulfing the structure.  Everything was destroyed.  In addition to the many ritual items such as sacred masks and drums, the temple contained many old, handwritten scriptures.  Some of these old scriptures had been written with ink of gold.

This village is a mix of Nyingma and Yungdrung Bön families.  Although the Bön families are greatly outnumbered, there is a good relationship between the two religions.  However, the Bön families have fewer resources to draw upon.  One young member of this Yangton family received his geshe degree last year and is doing his best to organize reconstruction of the temple and restoration of the many sacred texts and ritual items.

In addition to the long range goal of building a new temple and replacing statues and thangkhas, the immediate urgency is to acquire enough basic ritual items and texts so that needed rituals and religious services can be performed for the villagers.  The Sip Chok Bönpo community is very saddened by this great loss and are open to any support from the worldwide Bönpo sangha.  If you are interested in aiding this recovery process in any way, please email Raven at RCW108@gmail.com and you will be given direct contact information for those organizing the restoration.