The chakshing, hand object of Lord Tonpa Shenrap Miwoche, and the Yungdrung Bon flag atop Menri Monastery in Dholanji, India. Photo credit: Unknown
Category Archives: Iconography
The Field of Accumulation: The Ocean of Khandro
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.
The Ocean of Khandro are depicted as figures #1-25. Khandro (Sanskrit: dakini) literally translates as ‘sky-goer’ or ‘one who moves in the sky’. Khandro are a class of female beings who protect and serve the religious tradition as well as bestow spiritual attainments. Khandro can be classified in many ways. The classification below is according to the Tsok Zhing text. Each of the khandro are adorned with the six bone ornaments.
#1-8 Wisdom Khandro
1. Kalpa Zangmo, she has one face and four arms
2. Miyo Tenma
3. Dekma Kündrol
4. Kyema Ötso, Khandro of the Mother Tantra
5. Namkha Déden
6. Dakpa Kündü
7. Salwa Dröbéb
8. Tukjé Kündrol, Khandro of Tummo and Tsa Lung
Khandro Kalpo Zangmo
#9-13 Action Khandro
9a. Ürgyen Khandro, Khandro from Ürgyen
9b. Ürgyen Khandro, Khandro from Ürgyen
9c. Ürgyen Khandro, Khandro from Ürgyen
9d. Ürgyen Khandro, Khandro from Ürgyen
10. Choza Bönmo, Khandro of the female lineage of the Yétri Tasel Dzogchen
11. Öden Barma, Consort of Yidam Drenpa Namkha
12a. Gyagar Khandro, Khandro from India
12b. Gyagar Khandro, Khandro from India
12c. Gyagar Khandro, Khandro from India
12d. Gyagar Khandro, Khandro from India
13. Drushé Khandro, Khandro from Drusha
#14-25 Animal-headed Khandro
14. Durjé Ü, Heron-headed Khandro
15. Pharwé Ü, Coyote-headed Khandro
16. Chusin Ü, Crocodile-headed Khandro
17. Duktrul Ü, Poisonous Snake-headed Khandro
18. Chè Chang Ü, Jackal-headed Khandro
19. Sengé Ü, Lion-headed Khandro
20. Khyungi Ü, Garuda-headed Khandro
21. Takgi Ü, Tiger-headed Khandro
22. Zikgi Ü, Leopard-headed Khandro
23. Domgi Ü, Bear-headed Khandro
24. Drékyi Ü, Yellow Bear-headed Khandro
25. Khaté Ü, Crow-headed Khandro
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The Field of Accumulation: The Yungdrung Sempa
The Field of Accumulation according to the Menri Tradition
Yungdrung Sempa, Changeless & Ceaseless Warriors of the Mind
The term ‘Bodhisattva’ is a commonly used Sanskrit word referring to a practitioner who has fully developed their compassion as well as their intention to attain enlightenment in order to benefit other beings as well as themselves. In the Yungdrung Bön, the term is jang chub sempa. This literally translates as a ‘warrior or hero of the mind who has attained purification and understanding.’ There are many levels of jang chub sempa. Depicted in the Field of Accumulation in the Menri tradition are the Yungdrung Sempa, the Changeless and Ceaseless Warriors of the Mind. Among this group of Yungdrung Sempa, there are the Great Yungdrung Sempa and the Unsurpassed Yungdrung Sempa. The Great Yungdrung Sempa are the warriors of the mind who have reached one of the first seven grounds which are still considered impure. The Unsurpassed Yungdrung Sempa have reached one of the final three grounds which are considered pure.
A Yungdrung Sempa can manifest as any kind of sentient being in order to be of benefit.
- Dung Tsop Mucho Démdruk: He is the Speech manifestation of the Enlightened Lord Tönpa Shenrap. In the Wood Dragon year of 6016 B.C., he descended from Ölmo Lungrik to the earth in order to benefit sentient beings. This was 1,801 years after Lord Tönpa Shenrap showed the appearance of passing into parinirvana. During this time, many scholars appeared. In the Water Rabbit year of 5717 B.C., he went to the realm of the demi-gods in order to give teachings.
- Yungdrung Sempa of the Ten Stages of the Path of Meditation
- Yungdrung Sempa of the Path of Seeing
- Yungdrung Sempa of the Path of Preparation
- Yungdrung Sempa of the Path of Accumulation
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The Four Principal Enlightened Ones
The Four Principal Enlightened Ones of the Yungdrung Bon. Top to bottom & left to right: Satrik Érsang, Shenlha Okar, Sangpo Bumtri and Tonpa Shenrap
In the Yungdrung Bön tradition, there are Four Principal Enlightened Ones, the Dershek Tsozhi. These are the four principal buddhas who offer skillful means in order to guide sentient beings during the time when the human life span averages one hundred years. These Four Principal Enlightened Ones are often depicted individually as a central figure surrounded by two hundred fifty enlightened emanations. These four are depicted in this order:
Satrik Érsang: The name ‘Satrik Érsang’ is from the Zhang Zhung language. She also emanates as the Wise Loving Mother known as Sherap Jamma. The name ‘Sherap Jamma’ is from the Tibetan language and has the same meaning as the name ‘Satrik Érsang’, Wise Loving Mother. Satrik Érsang appears as gold-colored with a single face and two hands. In her right hand, she holds the External Five Warrior Seed Syllables: YANG, RAM, KHAM, SUNG, and OM. In her left hand, she holds a mirror. She sits upon a throne held aloft by lions. Surrounding her throughout the ten directions are: 1) the fifty peaceful, white goddesses who are emanations of her Body and who hold the Five Warrior Seed Syllables and a mirror, 2) the fifty peaceful, green goddesses who are emanations of her Speech and who hold the Five Warrior Seed Syllables and a mirror, 3) the fifty peaceful, red goddesses who are emanations of her Quality and who hold the Five Warrior Seed Syllables and a mirror, 4) the fifty peaceful, blue goddesses who are emanations of her Activity and who hold the Five Warrior Seed Syllables and a mirror. and 5) the fifty peaceful, gold colored goddesses who are emanations of her Mind and who hold the Five Warrior Seed Syllables and a mirror. Together, these five groups of goddesses constitute her retinue of two hundred and fifty goddess emanations.
“Having the uncreated and uninterrupted nature of space,
You are the Sole Mother who has completely clear wisdom.
From unborn space, clear light streams forth and becomes the Lord of Compassion.
I prostrate to the enlightened state of Satrik Érsang!”
— Homage to Satrik Érsang
Shenlha Ökar, also known as The Great, White Deity: In his manifestation as one of The Four Principal Enlightened Ones, he is white in color, his right hand holds an iron hook and his left hand is in the mudra of equanimity. He sits upon a throne held aloft by elephants. Similarly, he is surrounded in the ten directions by fifty emanations of his Body who are white, fifty emanations of his Speech who are green, fifty emanations of his Quality who are red, fifty emanations of his Activity who are blue, and fifty emanations of his Mind who are gold colored. All of these emanations hold an iron hook and the mudra of equanimity.
Sangpo Bumtri, also known as the White Deity of Phenomenal Existence: He is white in color and sits upon a throne held aloft by garudas. His right hand holds a victory banner and his left hand is in the mudra of equanimity. Surrounding him throughout phenomenal space are fifty emanations of his Body who are white, fifty emanations of his Speech who are green, fifty emanations of his Quality who are red, fifty emanations of his Activity who are blue, and fifty emanations of his Mind who are gold colored. All of these emanations hold a victory banner and the mudra of equanimity.
Tönpa Shenrap: In his manifestation as one of The Four Principal Enlightened Ones, he is blue in color and holds a chakshing in his right hand and his left hand holds the mudra of equanimity. He sits upon a throne held aloft by wheels of Bön. He is surrounded throughout the ten directions by two hundred fifty shenrap manifestations: fifty emanations of his Body who are white, fifty emanations of his Speech who are green, fifty emanations of his Quality who are red, fifty emanations of his Activity who are blue, and fifty emanations of his Mind who are gold colored. All of these emanations hold a chakshing and the mudra of equanimity.
All translations and content by 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 Five Supreme Embodiments
The Embodiment of Enlightened Body, the yidam Walse Ngampa
In the Yungdrung Bön tradition, there is a group of five yidam deities from the Father Tantra who embody the Enlightened Body, Speech, Mind, Quality and Activity of the Enlightened Lord Tönpa Shenrap Miwoche. This group of five yidam deities is collectively known as the Sé Khar Chok Nga, The Five Supreme Embodiments, or literally The Five Divine Fortresses.
The yidam deity, Walsé Ngampa is the embodiment of Enlightened Body. He is dark blue with nine heads and eighteen arms with which he holds various weapons for subduing obstacles. The main ritual text for this deity is entitled, “Stages of Practice for Walsé” which was composed by the great sage Drenpa Namkha. His consort has the peaceful nature of the enlightened Great Mother Satrik Érsang and is known as Ngammo Yumchen Tröpé Taktenma. Her body is dark green.
Embodiment of Enlightened Speech, the yidam Lhago Tokpa
The yidam deity, Lhagö Thokpa, is the embodiment of Enlightened Speech. He is dark blue with four heads and ten arms with which he holds various weapons for subduing obstacles. This yidam is not widely practiced at present. His consort has the nature of Sipé Gyalmo and is known as Jangnak Tröma. Her body is dark green and she has blue turquoise-colored hair.
Embodiment of Enlightened Mind, the yidam Trowo Tsochok Khaygying
The yidam deity, Trowo Tsochok Khagying, is the embodiment of Enlightened Mind. He is dark blue with three heads and six arms. The main ritual text for this deity is known by the abbreviated title, “The Great Empowerment of Trowo.” His consort is Khala Dukmo. Her body is red and she wears a sun, moon and stars as a head ornament.
Embodiment of Enlightened Quality, the yidam Walchen Gekhko
The yidam deity, Walchen Gekho, is the embodiment of Enlightened Quality. This deity is closely associated with the ancient kingdom of Zhang Zhung and Mt. Tisé (Mt. Kailash). He is dark blue with nine heads, four legs and the wings like a garuda. He has eighteen arms with which he holds various weapons for subduing obstacles. There are five tantric texts associated with the yidam. One of them was compiled by the esteemed first abbot of Menri Monstery, Nyammé Sherap Gyaltsen, and is entitled, “Secret Fierce Gekho.” His consort is the queen of the Drala and has a body that is red.
Embodiment of Enlightened Activity, the yidam Drukse Chempa
The yidam deity, Walpur Drukse Chempa, is the embodiment of Enlightened Activity. This yidam is also referred to as Phurba. He has three faces and six arms, each of which are holding a phurba, or ritual dagger. He and his consort’s body are joined below the waist and form a single phurba adorned with snakes. Both the yidam and his consort have wings. There are many ritual texts associated with Trowo Drukse Chempa.
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Nine Ways 