His Eminence Menri Lopon Yangton Thrinley Nyima Rinpoche
A Condensed Prayer of Aspiration
I pray to the Supreme Refuge, my root lama,
During this and all my future lives,
May I directly realize the nature of my mind, free from elaboration,
And may I have the capability to continually practice without interruption!”
~Written by 25th Menri Trizen HH Nyima Tenzin Rinpoche B. 1813-D. 1875. Translated by Raven Cypress Wood©
(Mural in Bhutan depicting the Great Lama, Drenpa Namkha)
According to the lunar calendar of the Yungdrung Bön, the 10th day of each month is the day set aside for the practice of the three sages: Drenpa Namkha and his two twin sons, Tséwang Rikdzin and Pema Tongdrul. On this day, it is appropriate to pay homage and make offerings to these lamas as well as to recite the mantras associated with their respective practices.
The practices of Drenpa Namkha and Tséwang Rikdzin, are widespread in the Yungdrung Bön tradition. In general, there have been three separate manifestations of Drenpa Namkha. Each was a reincarnation of the previous manifestation. There was the Drenpa Namkha of Tazik, Drenpa Namkha of Zhang Zhung, and Drenpa Namkha of Tibet. Drenpa Namkha of the ancient kingdom of Zhang Zhung was a prince who lived during 914 BCE. He married an Indian Brahman girl and had twin sons, Tséwang Rikdzin and Pema Tongdrul, who were born in the year 888 BCE. This manifestation of Drenpa Namkha wrote many Dzogchen texts and is often referred to simply as La Chen, or The Great Lama.
(As a meditational deity, Drenpa Namkha is most often depicted in a semi-wrathful form, blue in color and holding a yungdrung in his right hand.)
Drenpa Namkha of Tibet was born in the year 753 CE in Southern Tibet. He was an accomplished practitioner and renowned scholar. During this time, the kingdom of Tibet was ruled by King Trisong Detsen. This king had many Bön priest in his court, including Drenpa Namkha. When the king decided to convert the kingdom to the new Indian religion of Buddhism, he began to drive out the Bön priests and to destroy their texts. The Bön lamas were given the choice of exile from the kingdom, suicide, or conversion to the new religion. Many lamas chose to escape with texts and to try and preserve the teachings elsewhere. Drenpa Namkha chose to stay and protect the teachings and the texts from within Tibet. So, at the age of 31, he cut his own hair with a blade of gold and ordained himself a Buddhist with these words,
“A person who has attained realization would not make a distinction between his son and his enemy. I have no partiality for anything. Therefore, I shall be ordained.” (Translation by Samten Karmay from the Treasury of Good Sayings written by Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen.)
After his conversion, he had many texts hidden within chortens, statues and columns at the monastery of Samye. He continued to compose texts and to teach. Among his many students was the king, Trisong Detsen himself. Years later, the king allowed him to openly return to his practice of the Yungdrung Bön teachings.
“Look upon me with your unbiased compassion morning and night during the past, present and future. Turn back both seen and unseen enemies! My present and future Refuge and Protector, bless me to accomplish my intentions!”
~From the Prayer to Drenpa Namkha, translated by Raven Cypress Wood
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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 His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.
This is the gathering of all of the Enlightened Beings.
235. Gyalwa Shenrap Miwo Künlé Nampar Gyalwa, the Completely Victorious in Every Way, Shenrap Miwo. 16,017 BC – 7,817 BC. He is the Enlightened Being of the present time and founder of the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition. He appeared in the human realm when the human life-span was generally 100 years long. There are three versions of his life history: short, medium and long. The short version is within a text commonly referred to as the Do Dü. It is a terma, or rediscovered text, and has twenty-four chapters within one volume. The medium length version is within a text commonly referred to as the Zer Mik. It is also a terma and has eighteen chapters in two volumes. The long version is within a text commonly referred to as the Zi Ji. It is part of a group of orally transmitted texts and has sixty-one chapters in twelve volumes.
236. Yungdrung Tsukshen Gyalwa.
237. Sebu Malo. One of the main disciples of Shenrap Miwo.
238. Sebu Yulo. One of the main disciples of Shenrap Miwo.
239. Tobu Bumsang. He was the eldest son of Tönpa Shenrap Miwo. He led a group of disciples who primarily practiced the dzogchen teachings.
#240-246 Enlightened Beings that Appeared in Past Eons
240. Nangwa Rangjung Tukjéchen. This Enlightened Being appeared in the world when the human life-span was generally 100,000 years long.
241. Gewa Khorwa Kündren. This Enlightened Being appeared in the world when the human life-span was generally 80,000 years long.
242. Künshé Nyonmong Duksek. This Enlightened Being appeared in the world when the human life-span was generally 60,000 years long.
243. Lékpa Tsemé Tukjéchen. This Enlightened Being appeared in the world when the human life-span was generally 40,000 years long.
244. Nyompa Tamche Khyenzik. This Enlightened Being appeared in the world when the human life-span was generally 20,000 years long.
245. Jampa Trigyal Khukpa. This Enlightened Being appeared in the world when the human life-span was generally 10,000 years long.
246. Dakpa Togyal Yékhyen.This Enlightened Being appeared in the world when the human life-span was generally 1,000 years long. He was the eldest brother of Tönpa Shenrap Miwo in the celestial realm.
Jamden Rangma Medron, the Buddha prophesized to appear in the future
247. Jamden Rangma Médron. This Enlightened Being is prophesized to be the Buddha of the Future and will appear in this world when the human life-span has declined to be only 10 years long. He was the younger brother of Tönpa Shenrap Miwo in the celestial realm. He is depicted upon a throne held aloft by elephants and seated upon cushions of a sun, moon, and lotus. His right hand is held in a mudra of contemplation at the center of his heart and his left hand is held in the mudra of equipoise. His body is the color of clear crystal and upon his head is a crown of precious jewels.
248. The 1002 enlightened Beings of the Fortunate Eon.
249. All of the Enlightened Beings found throughout the ten directions.
HE Menri Lopon Yangton Thrinley Nyima Rinpoche bestows empowerment upon the Dolpo community
Within the Yungdrung Bön tradition, there are five ancient family lineages that are said to have originated with the gods and whose descendants have made profound contributions to the preservation and continuation of the Yungdrung Bön tradition throughout history. These Five Divine Families of Bön are the lineages of Mu-Shen, Dru, Pa, Zhu, and Me’u.
The two sons of the Shen lineage who are direct descendants of the Lord Tonpa Shenrap
Foremost among these is the lineage of Mu-Shen, the lineage of Lord Tönpa Shenrap Miwoche founder of the Yungdrung Bön tradition. His father was Mugyal Gyalbön Tökar, King of the Mu clan. Because Lord Shenrap introduced the Yungdrung Bön tradition, he was the first and the most high Shenrap or lama. Therefore, this began the Lineage of Shen. Much later in history, the descendants relocated to the area of Tsang in Tibet and became known as Shen-Tsang. These direct descendants of Lord Tönpa Shenrap Miwoche continue to this very day. See previous post: https://ravencypresswood.com/2015/03/19/direct-descendants-of-the-enlightened-lord-tonpa-shenrap-miwoche/
Menri Monastery in Dolanji, India. The original monastery of Yeru Wensaka was founded by the Dru family lineage.
The lineage of the royal Dru has two main branches: Sa Dru and Nam Dru. From the branch of the Nam Dru, the essence of all Enlightened Beings in the form of Özer Dangden descended from the celestial realm of Ogmin in order to benefit sentient beings. Perceiving that a demon was causing great harm to human beings in the area of Tibet, he magically rode upon his drum and was guided by a priest of the Yangton lineage. The king of Togar felt great faith in him and asked that he be given a meaningful name. Therefore, he was given the name Drusha Namse Chitol. He was called ‘Dru’ because he descended from the celestial realms. Drusha Namse Chitol went on to subdue the demon and convert all of his companions to the practice of virtue. One of the esteemed descendants of this lineage was Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung (1242-1290 A.D.) who composed the practice manual for the Dzogchen teachings of the Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyü. The Dru family founded many monasteries including the first organized monk college of Yeru Wensaka in 1012. It was destroyed by a massive flood in 1386, but rebuilt in 1402 by Nyamme Sherap Gyaltsen and renamed Menri Monastery. After the Chinese destruction of this monastery in modern times, Menri Monastery was rebuilt in Dolanji, India.
However, the Dru family’s influence and contribution in the Bön tradition have all but disappeared due to the recognition of two Panchen lamas in the family. The first, Pachen Lozang Yeshe 1663-1737, was recognized by the Fifth Dalai Lama as a way to establish the reincarnation lineage of Panchen lamas. At the same time, the Fifth Dalai Lama encouraged the family to continue to practice their own religion. When the second reincarnation, Panchen Tenpa’i Wangchuk, was recognized within the same family lineage, the Dru family seat was incorporated into the estate of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the traditional monastery of the Panchen lamas.
Yungdrung Bon monks during a festival at Pa Tsang Monastery
The lineage of the holy Pa began with Lha Bu Pa Wa who was the son of Sangpo Bumtri, one of the Four Transcendent Lords of Yungdrung Bön. He descended to the god realm and turned the wheel of Bön. From there, he descended into the land of Zhang Zhung and went to a crystal cave on Mt. Tisé (Mt. Kailash) where he meditated upon the yidam Zhang Zhung Meri for three years. There are many esteemed lamas in this lineage including the Thirteen Excellent Pa Lamas who were located in Western Tibet. Later, their descendants migrated to the Amdo area of Eastern Tibet in the region of the Hor Ye Tha clan. Here, the Pa Tsang Monastery, formally known as Pa Tsang Gön Yungdrung Rabten Ling, was established in 1847 by Patön Yungdrung Namzang. The monastery contains many murals of Yungdrung Bön deities and protectors. Presently, the monks of Pa Tsang Gön are known for their expertise in their twice annual sacred cham dances.
One of the most renowned descendants of the Zhu family lineage is the holy lama Zhu Ye Lekpo. Born into the divine Zhu family, he heard of the Great Shen who had discovered Bön texts and who was the catalyst for a resurgence of the Yungdrung Bön tradition. This Great Shen was Shenchen Luga. Zhu Ye Lekpo went to Shenchen Luga and requested teachings. Shenchen Luga tested his faith by having him act as an attendant for eight years before giving him any teachings or transmissions. However, Zhu Ye Lekpo became Shenchen Luga’s main disciple and responsible for the dzogchen teachings and practice. He founded Ri Zhing Monastery in the eleventh century. This monastery became very famous. At one time, the Tibetan government donated to it more than a dozen estates and it housed over three hundred monks. It was completely destroyed during the Chinese cultural revolution. In the 1980’s, members of the Zhu family began restoring one of the hermitages connected with the monastery. The descendants of the Zhu family now live in India.
Teacher of the Me’u Lineage, The Saint, The Supreme Gongdzo Ritropa
The lineage of the Me’u family began with another descendant of Sangpo Bumtri who descended from the god realm and had two sons: the first was called Ma and the second was called Me’u. Me’u had a son who exhibited many miraculous signs and among his descendants in the divine Me’u lineage is The Saint, Gongdzo Ritropa 1038-1096, founder of the dzogchen lineage of A Tri. Although he was married at a young age, he was able to leave married life and devote himself completely to spiritual practice. See previous post: https://ravencypresswood.com/2014/06/27/the-saint-founder-of-the-lineage-the-guidance-of-ah/
Throughout history, these Five Families of Bön have had a profound impact on the continuation of the Yungdrung Bön tradition in countless ways including ensuring the continuation of teaching and lama lineages, building monasteries and hermitages, and in the commission of creating statues, murals, thangkhas and the printing of texts.
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