• Forty-Three Trainings for an Enlightened Mind and Other Divine Writings

Kündun Sonam Lodro, the 22nd Abbot of Menri Monastery, was a prolific writer, renowned scholar, and accomplished practitioner. Born in 1784, he was the first of the Menri abbots to forego a life of completely solitary practice for long pilgrimages throughout Tibet. In this way, he became renowned for both his incredible intellect and his profound realization.

In this book, four of Kündun Sonam Lodro’s compositions have been translated into English. Forty-Three Trainings for an Enlightened Mind is a five-part composition of forty-three stanzas that provides guidance for daily living and spiritual development for practitioners.

—Excerpt from Forty-Three Trainings for an Enlightened Mind

Sherap Gongyal’s Supplication and Experiential Song upon Perceiving the Suffering and Misery of Cyclic Existence is prose of such vivid imagery that it pierces the delusory nature of worldly things and inspires commitment to a meaningful human life and spiritual development.

The Spontaneous Wish-fulfillment of Removing Obstacles from the Path is a commonly recited prayer within the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition. Rather than a composition, this prayer was given to Kündun Sonam Lodro during a vision of the enlightened Khandro Sherap Lo Pélmo and therefore is considered an oral transmission. This prayer is recited either as a daily practice or when needed to remove problems or obstacles.

A Flowing River of Supplications and Blessings is a heartfelt homage to the places of ultimate refuge. The beauty of the writing naturally guides the mind of the reader to a state of inspiration and openness.

“Within the king’s palace at the center of my body is the embodiment of all spiritual masters, the root lama, surrounded by a gathering of the guardians of the teachings.

To the one who pacifies all outer and inner obstacles, I devotedly prostrate, present offerings, and supplicate! Compassionately bless me and all other migrating beings!

Without exception, having pacified all illness, obstacles, and external interferences, lead us along the path of liberation and great bliss!”

—Excerpt from A Flowing River of Supplications and Blessings

The English language translation of these writings is followed by the Tibetan text. Additionally, the book contains a brief biographical introduction to Kündun Sonam Lodro, an extensive list of his compositions, a brief history of Menri Monastery together with a list of its thirty-four abbots along with their associated dates.

Forty-Three Trainings for an Enlightened Mind And Other Divine Writings by Raven Cypress Wood is available now through Lulu and can be purchased by following this link: https://www.lulu.com/shop/raven-cypress-wood/forty-three-trainings-for-an-enlightened-mind/paperback/product-wmw97z.html?q=Raven+Cypress+Wood&page=1&pageSize=4

• Sacred Smoke: The Ritual Practice of Fumigation and Offering in the Yungdrung Bön Religious Tradition

This book is both an in-depth overview and a practice manual for the ritual commonly known as sang [Tibetan: bsang]. Performed as a daily practice as well as on special occasions, the sang ritual of fumigation and offering is pervasive throughout both the Yungdrung Bön and Buddhist traditions because of its important relevance to ordinary people, lay practitioners, and monastics. The practice of sang is categorized within the Second Way of the Nine Ways of Bön and uses fragrant smoke to clear defilements from both the environment and its inhabitants.

The first part of Sacred Smoke introduces the reader to the sang ritual and provides a deeper understanding of the source, meaning, and purpose of the ritual. This includes descriptions of the kinds of defilements beings purified, the recipients of the offerings, and the benefits of performing the ritual.

The second part of Sacred Smoke provides the liturgical texts needed for the ritual including the original Tibetan with phonetics and the corresponding English translations. In addition to the sang ritual prayers according to the Menri tradition, Sacred Smoke includes texts for performing the sang ritual composed by the esteemed 23rd Menri Trizin, the sang ritual for the lu, and invocations to Blue Dzmbhala and Chammo Lamlha, the goddess of travel. Detailed instructions are given for how to perform the the ritual in either an extensive and more elaborate way, or a condensed version.

This is a 175 page hardcover with black and white images. It can be purchased from Amazon at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Smoke-Fumigation-Yungdrung-Religious/dp/130054578X/ref=sr_1_17?crid=1WC0O5NSI08YJ&keywords=sacred+smoke+book&qid=1647096918&sprefix=sacred+smo%2Caps%2C62&sr=8-17 or from the distributor from this link: https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/raven-cypress-wood/sacred-smoke/hardcover/product-977vd8.html?page=1&pageSize=4

• Indestructible: The Longevity Practice of Lama Tséwang Rikdzin

In the Yungdrung Bön tradition, the longevity practice of Lama Tséwang Rikdzin is foremost among the many longevity practices within the religious tradition. Indestructible: The Longevity Practice of Lama Tséwang Rikdzin by Raven Cypress Wood contains the English translation of the longevity practice of Lama Tséwang Rikdzin from the Tséwang Jarima Chok Dü scripture.

“The wisdom of Tséwang Rikdzin and the practices associated with this teaching can help us retrieve, extend, and enhance our life force: healing environmental, physical, emotional, and energetic imbalances in our lives. Strengthening and extending our lifespan provides more time for our spiritual development and for serving and benefiting other sentient beings.”

—From the foreword written by Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

Lama Tséwang Rikdzin is the embodiment of the Five Buddha Families and can therefore bestow any quality or wisdom that is needed.  In this particular practice, the attainment of longevity, physical health, vitality, and a complete and healthy soul are emphasized.

This book is suitable for both those familiar and those unfamiliar with the practice. It includes information regarding the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition, Lama Tséwang Rikdzin, and the root text which contains the longevity practice. The book is available as a hardback edition with color images and text, or a black and white paperback edition.  It can purchased through the Sacred Sky Press online store. The color hardback can be purchased at: Indestructible by Raven Cypress Wood Hardback

• The Heartdrop of Jamma

The Heartdrop of Jamma also known by the Tibetan name Jamma Nying Tik translated from the Tibetan and annotated by Raven Cypress Wood. Both the color and the black and white publications can be purchased at: The Heartdrop of Jamma by Raven Cypress Wood This text is an aural transmission that was given to H.H. 22nd Menri Trizin Sonam Lodro Rinpoche by a manifestation of Jamma known as Khandro Sherap Lo Pélma, the wisdom mother who increases the intellect. In the practice of The Heartdrop of Jamma, each part of the practitioner’s body is transformed into an aspect of Jamma. In that way, one’s entire body becomes the enlightened mandala of the Loving Mother.

This booklet includes annotated, color images of Jamma along with her five wisdom manifestations and her eight manifestations that protect from fear. Additionally, there is a brief biography of H.H. 22nd Menri Trizin Sonam Lodro. In order to further support the practice, the booklet concludes with the translation of Removing Obstacles from the Path, another aural transmission of Khandro Sherap Lo Pélma that is often practiced as a daily recitation in the Bönpo community and considered a powerful means of protection and support.

La traducción al español de El Corazón de Jamma está disponible aquí, para blanco y negro: La traducción al español de La Gota del Corazón de Jamma, para el color https://www.lulu.com/en/en/shop/raven-cypress-wood/jamma-nying-tik-spanish-color/paperback/product-kdp2y8.html

« La sphère du cœur de Chamma », autrement dit le Jamma Nying Tik: https://www.lulu.com/shop/raven-cypress-wood/la-sph%C3%A8re-du-c%C5%93ur-de-chamma-la-m%C3%A8re-aimante/paperback/product-g4w974.html?q=&page=1&pageSize=4

Freely Offered Translations 

These translations are offered freely for the personal use of Yungdrung Bön practitioners. No publication or digital distribution is allowed, in part or in whole, on any website or in any publication. Please respect this request. For recitation and receiving benefit and blessings, it is not necessary to have received the oral transmission of these prayers. Through their recitation, the practitioner is automatically engaging in the two accumulations of virtue and wisdom, and performing one of the thirteen activities of the Yungdrung Bön. (See post: https://ravencypresswood.com/2018/01/14/the-thirteen-bon-activities/) However, in order to receive the full benefit and power of the prayers, it is necessary to receive the oral transmission from a qualified Yungdrung Bön lama.

A pdf of these translations can be accessed through their respective Google Doc  links.

• Homage to the Enlightened Dimension of the Omniscient Tülku: This is one of the traditional practices and recitations performed on the anniversary of the birth of the enlightened lord Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché into human form. Download to the English language translation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fnHqY6yGG7yZoZ_8IfI9BetRTDwyigoR/view?usp=share_link

• The Tonglen Mönlam, Aspiration Prayer of Giving and Receiving: Through the practice of the tonglen mönlam, we train the mind to consider the experience of others, develop our compassion, and ultimately realize the true nature of phenomena through the dissolution of both happiness and suffering back into its source. This prayer was written by the modern-day saint, Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen Rnpoche, who exhibited his high realization at the time of his passing out of his body through the attainment of the rainbow body of light. Download link to the English translation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cTqrSneJpPCnsjxqOClkDU5euRfaxmHY/view?usp=sharing Download link to the Spanish language translation. La traducción es ofrecida de forma gratuita solo para uso personal. La liga para descarga de la traducción en español de la plegaria se encuentra aquí: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1011Y9Dc5mOmJTc3GNetY_i3eP9OEgbe_

• The Chanted Verse of Impermanence: From the Aural Transmission of Zhang Zhung preliminary practices, this prayer is used to ripen the mindstream and prepare the spiritual practitioner for further spiritual development and more advanced practices. For more information about the fundamental practice of impermanence see the article: https://ravencypresswood.com/2020/09/19/ripening-the-mind-stream-with-the-practice-of-realizing-impermanence/ The English translation of The Chanted Verse of Impermanence can be downloaded for personal use from this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/146WL9uyT8u842TVHKnmXJH60CHr5dHJz/view?usp=sharing

• The Bön Activity of Ablution for Cleanliness and Purification: This prayer for the daily practice of cleansing with lustral water was given by Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché while teaching The Fifth Way of the Genyen. This prayer supplicates the five yidam deities of the genyen cycle. Download link to the English language translation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GCyAqa-szKkelsHqusQZFPWfxSGFzpdv/view?usp=sharing

Much gratitude to the kind and generous donors who have made these freely offered translations possible! Your generosity is benefiting many people all over the world.

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