“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 Ersang!” 

— Homage to Satrik Érsang from Sutra of the Mother’s Essence

In the Yungdrung Bön religious 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 buddhas are: (1) Satrik Érsang, (2) Shenlha Ökar, (3) Sangpo Bumtri, and (4) Tönpa Shenrap.

Satrik Érsang:  The name “Satrik Érsang” is from the Zhang Zhung language.  “Satrik” means “sherap, wisdom.” “Érsang” means “Jamma, 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.

Tibetan translations by Raven Cypress Wood

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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