The spiritual guide of the Bonpo world, His Holiness 33rd Menri Throneholder, Lungtok Tenpa’i Nyima Rinpoche lights a candle during a seminar for the Yungdrung Bon tradition.
Category Archives: Tibetan Lamas
Welcoming the Lama
Yungdrung Bon monks in Derge, Tibet welcome a visiting master
The Field of Accumulation: Lamas of the Renowned Three Cycles of Secret Mantra
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 lineage of tantra and these lineage masters wear the clothes of yogis, tertons or revealers of hidden sacred treasure, or monks accordingly. These profoundly pure masters of tantra have all accomplished the attainments of practice.
1. Trulshen Nangden was the incarnation of Lord Tönpa Shenrap before he manifested in Olmo Lungrik. Transforming himself into a blue cuckoo, he alighted upon the shoulder of the deity Zangza Ringtsun. This caused a subtle, internal heat. As a result, he was miraculously born to her as Chimé Tsukpü.
2. Zangza Ringtsun was an emanation of the enlightened wise, loving Mother, Sherap Chamma who received the teachings of the Secret Mother Tantra from the primordial Buddha.
3. Chimé Tsukpü was miraculously born to Zangza Ringtsun.
4. Sangwa Düpa is cited in some texts as the previous incarnation of Buddha Shakyamuni.
5. Takla Mebar was a prince of Tazik.
6. Lhashen Yongsu Dakpa spread the teachings among the gods.
7. Milu Samlek was known for his intelligence and wrote separate commentaries for each of the three cycles of the Mother Tantra: outer, inner, and secret. He spread the teachings in the human realm.
8. Ludrup Yeshe Nyingpo was born to parents who had been childless for a long time. After making offerings and praying to the lu, or naga, a child was born to them. He spead the teachings among the lu.
Lama Ludrup Yeshe Nyingpo
9. Nangwa Dokchen transmitted the teachings to the son of the first Tibetan king.
10. Mutri Tsenpo was the son of the first Tibetan king, Nyatri Tsenpo. He invited one hundred eight esteemed scholars of Zhang Zhung to Tibet. After him, these teachings were not taught for three generations due to political obstacles.
11. Hara Chipar received the teachings from the four magical khandro of the elements of earth, fire, water and air in order to keep the teachings from further decline.
12. Takwer Liwer was a female practitioner and achieved supernatural powers. She could tame wild animals and also transform herself into anything that she wished. The spirits of earth and water obeyed her commands. After living for three hundred sixty years, she achieved the fruit of realization, the rainbow body of light.
13. Anu Traktak practiced on Mount Tise (Kailash) and lived for two hundred fifty-five years.
14. Sené Ga’u was born in Zhang Zhung and had many teachers. It is said that he could cure leprosy simply by looking at the patient. He achieved the rainbow body of light.
15. Tami Teké lived for two hundred seventy-seven years and achieved supernatural powers.
16. Shebu Rakhuk lived for two hundred years and achieved supernatural powers.
17. Zingwa Tüchen was a Chinese practitioner and lived for two hundred sixty-one years.
18. Pébön Toktsé
19. Pébön Toktrul lived for one hundred thirty-five years.
The Four Great Scholars: 20-23 These four scholars translated many Yungdrung Bön texts from the Zhang Zhung language into Tibetan.
20. Tonggyung Tüchen
21. Shari Uchen was a previous manifestation of the modern day saint, Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen Rinpoche.
22. Gyimte Machung
23. Chetsa Kharbu
24. Hripa Gyermé
25. Mutsa Gyermé gave the text Zi Ji to the 14th century master, Loden Nyingpo in a vision.
26. Drenpa Namkha was born in 753 AD. In general, there are three Drenpa Namkha that are incarnations of the previous one. 1) Drenpa Namkha of Tazik 2)Drenpa Namkha of Zhang Zhung who was a prince and is commonly referred to as La Chen, the great lama. It was this Drenpa Namkha that married an Indian Brahman girl and had twin sons, Tsewang Rikdzin and Pema Tongdrol. 3) Drenpa Namkha of Tibet who saved many Yungdrung Bön texts from destruction during the persecution of Bön by the Tibetan kind Trisong Detsen. See previous post, “Practice of the Great Lama, Drenpa Namkha.”
Lama Drenpa Namkha
27. Shenchen Luga 996-1035 was a manifestation of Tonggyung Tüchen and was a terton, or treasure discoverer, one who discovers texts and/or sacred objects that are hidden. He had many disciples who began religious centers in their respective home villages.
28. Germi Nyi Öd was born in Zhang Zhung and was a terton. He lived for three hundred years.
29. Matön Sidzin was a terton who discovered many texts including a ritual invocation of the protector Sipe Gyalmo.
30. Yiltön Khyungö Tsal was born in 1198 and was a great terton who discovered many texts including the main ritual text for the protector and yidam Gekho,
31. Druchen Namkha Yungdrung
32. Wangden Zhuye Lekpo was one of Shenchen Luga’s main disciples and served him as an attendant. He founded the famous Ri Zhing Monastery.
33. Patön Palchok Zangpo was one of the final disciples to meet Shenchen Luga.
34. Me’u Lhari Nyenpo composed a summary of the long version of the Yungdrung Bön Prajnaparamita that was discovered as terma by Shenchen Luga.
35. Drusha Khyungi Gyaltsen was the son of Druchen Namkha Yungdrung.
36. Drusha Jetsun
37. Drutön Nyigyal
38. Yorpo Mépal 1134-1168
39. Nyi Tsultrim Gyaltsen
40. Drogön Dutsi Gyaltsen
41. Drogön Lodro Gyaltsen 1198-1263 was also known as Azha Lodro Gyaltsen.
42. Dulwa Gyaltsen
43. Drutön Gyalwa Yungdrung
44. Namkha Özer
45. Sonam Gyaltsen
46. Sonam Lodro
47. Namkha Sonam
48. Tsewang Gyaltsen
49. Namkha Rinchen
50. Namgyal Kara
51. Khedrup Rinchen Lodro
The Precious Human Life
The deity of longevity, Tsewang Rikdzin
“EMAHO! Praise to the unborn, self-arisen tulku! Praise to the supreme gathering of all of the buddhas of the three times! Praise to the eternal, unchanging deity of longevity! Praise to the manifestation of Tséwang Rikdzin!” -from the Tséwang Jarima
According to the teachings of the Yungdrung Bön, a human life is rare and precious. Because of this, there are spiritual practices with the purpose of healing any damage to the lifespan and for removing any obstacles that could interfere with the complete fulfillment of the lifespan of an individual. One of the most common practices to attain these results is The Practice of the King of Longevity, Tséwang Rikdzin’s Supreme Collection that was received upon Jarima. Commonly referred to as the Tséwang Jarima. Within this text are rituals for healing as well as instructions for practicing with the King of Longevity, Tséwang Rikdzin. This deity holds a Tibetan letter AH which symbolizes his realization of emptiness and the highest of all teachings regarding absolute reality. He also holds the symbol of a yungdrung which represents changelessness and ceaselessness. In this context, these qualities are associated with his power over the lifespan.
Tséwang Rikdzin was an historical person. He was the son of Zhang Zhung Drenpa Namkha and his twin brother was Pema Tongdrol. Although an emanation with great knowledge and realization at his birth, Tséwang Rikdzin received many teachings and heart instructions from his father. In addition to composing many ritual texts in order to alleviate the suffering of sentient beings, he is also an important lineage master of the highest teachings, called Dzogchen, The Great Perfection.
The Tséwang Jarima text contains a long life mantra that is recited by Yungdrung Bön practitioners throughout the world. During the week-long longevity retreat, this mantra is recited 100,000 or more times in order to obtain the power and energy of the mantra and the yidam, Tséwang Rikdzin.
SO DRUM AH KAR MU LA TING NAM Ö DU MU YÉ TSÉ NI DZA
SO is the changeless space of all phenomena
DRUM is the unequaled palace of the deity
AH KAR is the nature of birth-less wisdom
MU LA is the seed syllable of the rikdzin, specifically Tséwang Rikdzin
TING NAM is the self-arising water of nectar
Ö DU is the bringing together of all of the attainments of longevity
MU YÉ is the mantric vibration of luck and prosperity
TSÉ NI is the essence of a human being
DZA is the iron hooks of light
A Master Visits
Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche being welcomed by Yungdrung Bon nuns at their temple
Greatly kind lama, embodiment of all of the Victorious Ones, think of me!
I pray single-pointedly that my wish for the removal of all obstacles will be perfectly accomplished!
Extracted from the writings of Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen Rinpoche
Translated by Raven Cypress Wood
Nine Ways 