At Menri Monastery in Dolanji, India, the 22nd-29th lunar days of the 6th Tibetan month, August 5th-11th in 2026, is the time for the practice of Shenrap Nampar Gyalwa. This is the wrathful form of the founder of the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition, the enlightened Lord Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché. In order to protect the construction of a temple, he spontaneously manifested as Nampar Gyalwa, the Completely Victorious One and demonstrated complete victory over negative and destructive forces as his eighth deed. (See previous post: Buddha Tönpa Shenrap’s Eighth Deed. During this retreat, the ordained of Menri Monastery and Ratna Menling Nunnery will summon the presence of Nampar Gyalwa and his retinue, recite praises, make offerings, and request blessings for the Yungdrung Bön teachings and practitioners, the community of supporters, and more generally for the pacification of negativity and the restoration of harmony. During this time, the one hundred syllable mantra will be recited many thousands of times.
The One Hundred Syllable Mantra, Yig Gya
The one hundred syllable mantra is the mantra associated with Shenrap Nampar Gyalwa. As one of the nine foundational practices in the Yungdrung Bön tradition, practitioners recite this mantra 100,000 times while imagining the purification of all negativity of the three times of past, present, and future including every action of body, speech, and mind arising from anger, greed, jealousy, pride, and ignorance. This mantra is also recited at the conclusion of all rituals in order to purify any mistakes that might have occurred. In his teaching regarding the meaning of the one hundred syllable mantra, Buddha Tönpa Shenrap explained that the enlightened wrathful manifestations use fierce means and manifest in both certain and uncertain forms. In this way, Nampar Gyalwa’s emanations can manifest in any way necessary to tame beings and purify the realms of the six kinds of destiny. In addition to cleansing, purifying, and taming, the one hundred syllable mantra also develops wisdom and clarity.
When reciting the one hundred syllable mantra, the visualization of Nampar Gyalwa is according to his blue manifestation.
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Each year during the 23rd-29th lunar days of the 5th month, members of the Menri Monastery ordained community undergo a retreat for Jamma Chenmo, the Great Loving Mother. In 2026, those lunar dates coincide with July 8th-13th. This cycle of tantric teachings of Künsel Jamma Chenmo are found in The Eighth Way of Bön, The Way of the Primordial Shen.
Jamma Chenmo, the Great Loving Mother, is a Buddha who manifests as a loving mother to care for each and every sentient being as though they were her only child. In her manifestation as one of the Four Transcendent Buddhas of the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition, she is called by the Zhang Zhung name Satrik Érsang.
Buddha Jamma Chenmo, also called Sherap Jamma, can manifest in any way necessary to act for the welfare of sentient beings. She magically emanates as the Five Wisdom Families who are the manifestation of her enlightened body, the Eight Protectors who are the manifestation of her enlightened speech, the Sixteen Door Openers who are manifestations of her enlightened mind, the thirty-two emanations who are manifestations of her enlightened qualities, the fifty-two emanations that are manifestations of her enlightened activity, the 108 emanations who are the source of many Jamma scriptures, the 360 emanations who keep watch over the five elements of the phenomenal world and every kind of sentient being, the 5,500 emanations that are yungdrung sempa [Sanskrit:bodhisattvas], and the many limitless emanations who are part of her retinue and who work on her behalf.
The Heartdrop of Jamma is a short, but profound, text that enables one to deeply connect with Sherap Jamma in order to receive her blessings and protection. The power of reciting this text with devotion has unimaginable benefits. Within the text itself, it details some of these extraordinary benefits.
“If you recite from the beginning until the end, it is the same as reciting the Kangyur one time. If you perform the practice daily, you will attain buddhahood in this single lifetime with this body. Because this is the oral transmission of the Mother and the khandro, if you practice without hope, fear, or doubt, buddhahood is certain.
Extract from The Heartdrop of Jamma, The Wise Loving Mother
The English language translation of this text by Raven Cypress Wood is available in both print and eBook here: The Heartdrop of Jamma. The Spanish language and French language translations will soon be available in eBook. Stay tuned!
For those who would like to listen to a mediative reading of the text, Raven has recorded and published it on the Nine Ways Youtube channel here: https://youtu.be/c9s82TmhfuA.
The Five Wisdom Manifestations of Jamma
Jamma Chenmo’s Five Wisdom Family emanations all have a peaceful appearance and collectively embody the five wisdoms and purify the five poisons. These five manifestations are Künsel Jamma, Tabgyi Jamma, Mönlam Jamma, Tukjé Jamma, and Topgyi Jamma.
Künsel Jamma, the All-clear Loving Mother, is a fiery golden color. She has one face, two arms, and two legs. In her right hand, she holds a golden vase of nectar. In her left hand, she holds a udumbara flower. At the flower’s apex is a round mirror symbolizing wisdom. She wears bracelets of crystal, and around her neck is an ornament of forty wisdom tiklés. She is the embodiment of the wisdom of emptiness.
Tapgyi Jamma, Loving Mother of Skillful Means, is white with one face, four arms, and two legs. In her two right hands, she holds a net and a lotus. In her two left hands, she holds a lightening bolt and a yungdrung. She is the embodiment of mirror-like wisdom.
Mönlam Jamma, Loving Mother of Aspiration, is also known as Namkha Dzö Dzinma, Holder of a Sky Treasury. She is green with one face, four arms, and two legs. In her right two hands, she holds a razor and a staff. In her two left hands, she holds a renunciate’s begging bowl and a vase of lustral water. She is the embodiment of the wisdom of equanimity.
Tükjé Jamma, Loving Mother of Compassion, is like the queen of all the khandro and also manifests as the great consort, Chema Ötso. She is red with one face, four arms, and two legs. In her right two hands, she holds a lasso and a sun. In her left two hands, she holds a precious jewel and a victory banner. She is the embodiment of discriminating wisdom.
Topgyi Jamma, Loving Mother of Power, is also known as Nang Si Kün Drakma, Goddess who is renowned throughout the phenomenal universe. She is blue with one face, four arms, and two legs. In her right two hands she holds a dagger and a military banner. In her left two hands, she holds a horoscope and an utpal flower. She is the embodiment of all-accomplishing wisdom.
The Eight Jamma Manifestations that Protect from Fear
Drayi Jik Chopma, Protector from the Fear of Enemies, is the Protector who turns back all enemies having form or those who are formless. She is the Loving Mother who reverses all flaws and defects.
Jekyi Jik Chopma, Protector from the Fear of Curses and Slander, is the Protector who destroys all harm and damage caused by curses, slander ,and negative use of energy and magic.
Rikgyi Jik Chopma, Protector from Fear for the Lineage, is the Protector who bestows the attainment of children to sentient beings who want to continue the family lineage and are suffering because of infertility or other obstacles to having children or continuing a lineage such as a family, a business, or a group.
Luyi Jik Chopma, Protector from the Fear of the Lu, is the Subduer of the demon lu that cause diseases such as leprosy, internal lesions, herpes and so on.
Mutek Jik Chopma, Protetor from the Fear of Wrong Views, is the Destroyer who decisively ends the criticism of outsiders who hold wrong views. She also strengthens the intellect.
Kyöngyi Jik Chopma, Protector from the Fear of Flaws and Errors, is the Loving Mother who overcomes uncleanliness, mistakes and defilements.
Tséyi Jik Chopma, Protector from the Fear of Death, is the Medicine Goddess of Longevity who protects from the fear of death.
Zayi Jik Chopma, Protector from the Fear of the Planets, is the Loving Mother who subdues, without exception, planets, stars and the eight classes of beings. She protects from harm coming from astrological influences.
Jamma Chenmo and her retinue
The Ten Jamma Manifestations that are the Source of the Ten Perfections Teachings
Sherap Jamma is the source of the perfection of wisdom teachings. She has ten manifestations that embody the pure and fully manifested quality of each of the ten perfections. Each of these manifestations has one face, two hands and is seated on a throne.
Jinpa Jamma, Loving Mother of Generosity, is blue and holds a mala of counting beads in her right hand and a vase of nectar in her left hand. Of the ten grounds, she is associated with the ground of immense joy.
Tsultrim Jamma, Loving Mother of Moral Discipline, is blue and holds an everlasting tree in her right hand and a dark blue vase in her left hand. Of the ten grounds, she is associated with the ground of stainless crystal.
Zöpa Jamma, Loving Mother of Patience, is bluish green and holds a victory banner of fire in her right hand and a water wheel in her left hand. Of the ten grounds, she is associated with the ground of radiance.
Tsöndru Jamma, Loving Mother of Zeal, is light green and holds a magical lasso in her right hand and a wheel of the wind in her left hand. Of the ten grounds, she is associated with the ground of the mudra of transformation.
Samten Jamma, Loving Mother of Concentration, is turquoise and holds a golden phurba in her right hand and a large, unchanging rock in her left hand. Of the ten grounds, she is associated with the ground of cloudbanks of the Bön essence.
Topgyi Jamma, Loving Mother of Power, is light red and holds a lion banner in her right hand and the mudra of overcoming the earth with her left hand. Of the ten grounds, she is associated with the ground of realizing bliss.
Tükjé Jamma, Loving Mother of Compassion, is reddish green and holds a wish-fulfilling jewel in her right hand and a lasso of compassion in her left hand. Of the ten grounds, she is associated with the ground of accomplishing wishes.
Mönlam Jamma, Loving Mother of Aspiration, is red and holds a hollyhock flower in her right hand and a coral vase in her left hand. Of the ten grounds, she is associated with the ground of pure non-attachment.
Tapgyi Jamma, Loving Mother of Skillful Means, is white and holds a lasso of skillful means in her right hand and a golden vase in her left hand. Of the ten grounds, she is associated with the ground of the wheel of letters.
Sherap Jamma, Loving Mother of Wisdom, she is golden and holds a golden vase in her right hand and a mirror of clarity in her left hand. Of the ten grounds, she is associated with the ground of the changeless yungdrung.
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His Eminence Yongdzin Rinpoche received the transmission for this text from Phukpa Lagan in Tibet and eventually transmitted it to both Tibetans and Westerners. Decades earlier, Tokden Gyalwa Wangden directly received this practice as an aural transmission from the fierce, enlightened goddess Si Gyal herself. The practice has been published as a coil bound text to for ease of reciting the text while also performing the healing waters ritual. Additionally, the mantric syllables have been added to aid the creation of a flag of protection according to instructions within the text. You can purchase a copy here: The Heartdrop of Si Gyal
This practice was previously published by Sacred Sky and purchase was restricted. However, many people who have received the transmission and teaching were unaware of this available publication. And so, although Nine Ways is making it widely available it is strongly recommended to not engage in the practice until transmission for this text has been received. This text is protected by the khandro and receiving the transmission gives permission for its use. Denma Geshe leads this practice regularly and has stated that he will give transmission to those who need it. See the Ligmincha Texas Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DBzYSQTDy/
Nine Ways is supported by a mandala of kind and generous donors. Because of their generosity, the work continues.
Have a Question about Something You Read? Ask Raven.
Nuns of Ratna Menling reading from the teachings of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap
Each year at Pal Shenten Menri Monastery and Ratna Menling Nunnery on the 14th and 15th lunar days of the 4th month, the enlightened teachings of Lord Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché are read out loud. In 2026, these dates coincide with May 30th and 31st on the Western calendar. During the ceremony, the sacred volumes containing these teachings are carried by both the ordained and laypeople as they circumambulate the temple complex. As a sign of respect for the sacredness of the scriptures, they are carried above the waist. Most often, they are carried on the shoulder. After completing the circumambulation, they are brought into the temples and distributed to the ordained monks and nuns for two full days of recitation. Reading the scriptures aloud is considered one of the thirteen activities for a meaningful human life. (See previous article: Thirteen Activities for a Meaningful Life).
His Holiness the 34th Menri Trizen, His Eminence Menri Pönlop Rinpoche, and other monks of Menri Monastery carry texts containing the words of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap while circumambulating.
The canon of sacred Yungdrung Bön scriptures is divided into two categories. The first category of texts consist of the teachings of the primordial enlightened ones and Lord Buddha Tönpa Shenrap. This category is known as Ka [Tibetan: bka’] meaning enlightened words or speech. These texts are further divided into four primary categories: (1) Dō [Tibetan: mdo], Sutra contains teachings regarding monastic rules, cosmology, medicine, hagiographies, and invocations, (2) Bum [Tibetan: ‘bum], the wisdom texts of The Hundred Thousand also known as The Prajnaparamita, (3) Gyü [Tibetan: rgyud], Tantra, and (4) Dzö [Tibetan: mdzod] The Treasury of the highest teachings known as dzogchen. In some catalogues, there can also be a fifth category of miscellaneous texts. Although each Yungdrung Bön temple in Tibet had a significant collection of Ka scriptures, the collections were not necessarily complete. This was especially due to repeated persecution throughout history of the Yungdrung Bön tradition which necessitated the hiding of texts. It is thought that only one complete collection survived. According to a catalogue of the Ka done by the 23rd abbot of Menri there are a total of 175 volumes. This number can vary according to various collections due to the availability of texts that could be copied, whether only main titles were counted as a volume, and so on.
Monks and nuns of Menri Monastery circumambulating with the scriptures of the Ka.
The second category of canonical texts is known as the Ka Ten [Tibetan: bka’ brten], Relying upon the Words. Thus, the Bön canon is referred to as the Ka and the Ka Ten. (This differs from the Buddhist canon which is referred to as the Kangyur and the Tengyur.) The Ka Ten includes commentaries, practices, rituals, and so on that rely upon the scriptures of the Ka as their root text. In order for a text to be included in the Ka Ten, it must undergo a rigorous and methodical analysis. Although there are over 300 volumes included within the Ka Ten, some catalogues do not include texts after the 14th century which are thought to be mainly texts of the New Bön tradition. Other catalogues do include these texts as well as the collective writings of other Bön sages such as Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen of the 19th Century CE. Additionally, many texts are incredibly rare and are guarded from outsiders. Therefore, few if any copies of these texts exist. Some texts are considered valid to be included in the Ka Ten by some, while being considered invalid and thus excluded by others. Titles can be included within unrelated volumes or counted individually, and so on. Even so, it is generally accepted that there are over 300 volumes of Ka Ten scriptures. These volumes include commentaries, scriptures of philosophy and logic, biographies, historical accounts, compositions of sacred songs, poetry, advice for disciples, collections of liturgical texts, and so on.
Traditionally wrapped and labeled Yungdrung Bön scriptures.
It is said that reading The Heartdrop of Jamma from the beginning until the end is the same as reading the entire 118 volumes of the Ka, the words of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap. This beautiful text, where the practitioner transforms their physical body into the sacred mandala of the limitless emanations of Sherap Jamma, has been translated by Raven Cypress Wood and published by Nine Ways. It is available in both print and eBook. For those who would like to listen to a meditative reading of the English translation of this text, it is available on the Nine Ways Youtube channel.
Buddha Sherap Jamma, Mother of Wisdom and Love, cares for all beings as though they were her only child without any bias, prejudice, or limitation. The light of her wisdom and loving kindness shines continuously for everyone, like a bright sun that is not limited to time or location.
The Heartdrop of Jamma is a short, but profound, text that enables one to deeply connect with Sherap Jamma in order to receive her blessings and protection. The power of reciting this text with devotion has unimaginable benefits. Within the text itself, it details some of these extraordinary benefits.
“If you recite from the beginning until the end, it is the same as reciting the Kangyur one time. If you perform the practice daily, you will attain buddhahood in this single lifetime with this body. Because this is the oral transmission of the Mother and the khandro, if you practice without hope, fear, or doubt, buddhahood is certain.
It is said that if this is written in black ink and the practice is performed regularly, after three births one will attain buddhahood. if you read this with the support of a longevity arrow, you will attain the accomplishment of longevity. If you recite the mantra to good quality water mixed with powdered, medicinal incense and then cleanse with that water, all illness and sickness caused by negative forces will be pacified and all defilements and contaminations will be purified. Having recited the mantra to a protection cord, if you fasten it around your neck or to your upper body it will protect against all harm from sharp weapons or tools. Whatever the desired wish for yourself or others, if you pray and recite with a single-pointed focus, without a doubt it will be accomplished! Thus, it is said.”
Extract from The Heartdrop of Jamma, The Wise Loving Mother
The English language translation of this text by Raven Cypress Wood is available in both print and eBook here: The Heartdrop of Jamma. The Spanish language and French language translations will soon be available in eBook. Stay tuned!
For those who would like to listen to a mediative reading of the text, Raven has recorded and published it on the Nine Ways Youtube channel here: https://youtu.be/c9s82TmhfuA.
More Time Slots Now Available for Consultations or Mentorships
As of May 1, 2026, more online and in-person meeting times are now available for either individuals or groups for consultation or mentorship related to Yungdrung Bön religious practice or study. For more information, go to the Mentorships, Consultations, & Guidance page by clicking on the tab at the top of this page.
Coming Soon:
Raven will interview Geshema Sherap Yeshe Palzin, member of the first class of Ratna Menling nuns to receive a geshe degree and founder of Niu Pal Gyi De Nai. Born in Tibet in 1982 and having spent her childhood as a shepherd, she longed to devote her life to spiritual practice. After receiving novice vows at the age of nineteen, she spent over four months on a harrowing journey making her way to Nepal, mostly on foot. This interview will explore her journey to Menri in Dolanji, receiving her geshe degree, and now being a teacher to Westerners. Stay tuned!
Geshema Sherap Palzin
Nine Ways is supported by a mandala of kind and generous donors. Because of their generosity, the work continues.
Have a Question about Something You Read? Ask Raven.
