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Special Day for Healing Waters Practice

His Eminence Menri Yongdzin Pönlop Yangtön Thrinley Nyima Rinpoche gives blessed water for cleansing obscurations and bestowing blessings to the school children of the Tapriza School in Dolpo, Nepal.

The 5th lunar day of the 7th month each year is a powerful day for receiving blessed water or for practicing with water for cleansing or healing. In 2025, this lunar date corresponds with August 28th. Healing from blessed water or other types of medicine taken on this day will continue to have amplified power for seven days.

A belief shared among many religious traditions is that particular bodies of water can bestow purification, healing, eternal youth, or special knowledge. Within the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition, there are many rituals to imbue water with the blessings and power of the enlightened ones in order to wash away negativities and provide healing and protection. This kind of water and its associated ritual cleansing is known as trü [Tibetan: khrus]. There are daily practices of ritual washing that are performed at dawn in order to cleanse the body, speech, and mind. In particular, this is one of the practices adopted by genyen, or lay practitioners with vows. In Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen’s Thirteen Daily Yogas, he gives instructions for external, internal, and secret cleansing using water. According to one’s current practice, the source of purification is from Buddha Sherap Jamma, Shenlha Ökar, or Küntu Zangpo.

“OM, From the nature of enlightened body, speech, and mind from the mandala of the completely pure Bön essence, a stream of three tiklés descend. This is water of the great unborn enlightened body. May the stains of the physical body become purified! This is water of the great unceasing enlightened speech. May the stains of speech become purified! This is water of the great undeluded enlightened mind. May the stains of mind become purified! Having purified the obscurations of body, speech, and mind of myself and the limitless sentient beings, may we be endowed with the completely pure three trainings!”

— From Stainless Majestic Splendor

One of the most widespread healing practices using water is Nampar Jompa’s Healing Waters Mantra practice. The enlightened deity Nampar Jompa has a wrathful appearance with a blue-colored body with serpents as ornaments on his arms, legs, waist, and hair.

Nampar Jompa

“I, myself, as the deity Nampar Jompa hold in my right hand a vessel filled with elixir.  In my left hand, I hold a mirror which removes all illness and injury.  Having washed with this healing water, I clearly imagine that any remaining contamination is washed away because of this medicine.”  

— From The Practice of the Washing Rite within Nampar Jompa’s Healing Waters Mantra

At the conclusion of the practice after the practitioner has transformed into the deity Nampar Jompa, empowered the water with mantra, and then washed with the water, the practice text concludes with a notation emphasizing the power of the practice.

“Thus, through this supplication prayer of the washing rite, having purified all traces of previous illness and negative external influences, just like the overflow of water from a crystal vessel, imagine that all negativity and illness leave from the tips of the fingers and toes, the nostrils and the secret place.

There is no place what-so-ever for the creation of even the smallest thing to arise.  Not even a single atom remains that needs to be purified!”

Sigyal Drakngak Walmo, the enlightened deity who protects from contagious disease through empowered water

During the global pandemic of Covid-19, many Yungdrung Bön lamas advised their disciples to engage with the mantra and practice of Sigyal Drakngak who is one of the most wrathful manifestations of Sipé Gyalmo who specifically protects from infectious disease through the use of empowered water. Translation of this text, The Heartdrop of Si Gyal that is All-pervasive and Clears Away Afflictive Emotions and Illness, has been published in both English and French. Because this is a restricted text, it is available only for those who have received transmission for the practice. (If you have received transmission and would like to order a copy of the translation, email Raven Cypress Wood at the email address listed below with the name of the teacher and the year that you received transmission and you will be given the ordering information.)

“OM! This water of nectar has the nature of wisdom and medicine. May all negative karma, afflictive emotions and discursive thoughts of migrating beings be washed away! May all illness, external negative forces, karmic potentialities, and contaminations be purified!”

— From The Heartdrop of Si Gyal that is All-pervasive and Clears Away Afflictive Emotions and Illness

In addition to the practices specifically using water as a method of purification, healing, or empowerment, there are practices and mantra that can be used to transform water from an ordinary substance to one that is imbued with extraordinary qualities. Again in Shardza Rinpoche’s Thirteen Daily Yogas, he suggests using the following mantra for all daily liquids in order to transform them into nectar: SO OM MA MA MU YE A OM HUNG TING NAM DÜTSI SO TA. One should recite the mantra seven or twenty-one times, blow onto the liquid, and then drink while visualizing that it has become the nectar of wisdom. 

Also, the great mantra, OM MA TRI MU YÉ SA LÉ DU, has extraordinary power and can be recited one hundred times or more, without the interruption of ordinary speech, then blown onto clean water used for drinking or cleansing. According to the chapter within the MA TRI tantra entitled The Thirty-two Benefits of the Sufficient Recitation of the Precious Lamp:

“Anyone affected by contaminated energy, latent karmic potentialities, misfortune, or defilements, having recited this MA TRI mantra into pure, clean water, if they ritually wash for seven mornings, even karmic defilements will be purified.”

— From The Thirty-two Benefits of the Recitation Practice of the Precious Lamp

The Heartdrop of Jamma is an aural transmission from Khandro Sherap Lo Pélma who is a manifestation of Sherap Jamma and a deity who is specifically practiced in order to develop the intellect. In The Heartdrop of Jamma, the practitioner uses the power of the mantric syllables to transform each aspect of their body into one of Jamma’s countless manifestations. This text is commonly recited by Yungdrung Bön families after the final meal of the day. This texts lists many benefits of its recitation including the use of water.

“If you recite the mantra to good quality water mixed with powdered, medicinal incense containing blessed medicine and the six excellent substances, 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.” 

— From The Heartdrop of Jamma

The English, Spanish, and French translations of The Heartdrop of Jamma have been published and are available to anyone through this link: https://www.lulu.com/search?page=1&q=raven+cypress+wood&pageSize=10&adult_audience_rating=00

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Special Day for Healing Waters Practice

His Eminence Menri Yongdzin Pönlop Yangtön Thrinley Nyima Rinpoche gives blessed water for cleansing obscurations and bestowing blessings to the school children of the Tapriza School in Dolpo, Nepal.

The 5th lunar day of the 7th month each year is a powerful day for receiving blessed water or for practicing with water for cleansing or healing. In 2024, this lunar date corresponds with September 8th. Healing from blessed water or other types of medicine taken on this day will continue to have great power for seven days.

It is a widespread belief shared among many religious traditions that particular bodies of water can bestow purification, healing, eternal youth, or special knowledge. Within the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition, there are many rituals to imbue water with the blessings and power of the enlightened ones in order to wash away negativities and provide healing and protection. This kind of water and its associated ritual cleansing is known as trü [Tibetan: khrus]. One of the most widespread is Nampar Jompa’s Healing Waters Mantra practice. The enlightened deity Nampar Jompa has a wrathful appearance with a light-blue body and distinctly having serpents as ornaments on his arms, legs, waist, and hair.

“I, myself, as the deity Nampar Jompa hold in my right hand a vessel filled with elixir.  In my left hand, I hold a mirror which removes all illness and injury.  Having washed with this healing water, I clearly imagine that any remaining contamination is washed away because of this medicine.”  

— From The Practice of the Washing Rite within Nampar Jompa’s Healing Waters Mantra

At the conclusion of the practice after the practitioner has transformed into the deity Nampar Jompa, empowered the water with mantra, and then washed with the water, the practice text concludes with a notation emphasizing the power of the practice.

“Thus, through this supplication prayer of the washing rite, having purified all traces of previous illness and negative external influences, just like the overflow of water from a crystal vessel, imagine that all negativity and illness leave from the tips of the fingers and toes, the nostrils and the secret place.

There is no place what-so-ever for the creation of even the smallest thing to arise.  Not even a single atom remains that needs to be purified!”

Sigyal Drakngak Walmo, the enlightened deity who protects from contagious disease through empowered water

During the beginning time of the global pandemic of Covid 19, many Yungdrung Bön lamas advised their disciples to engage with the mantra and practice of Sigyal Drakngak who is one of the most wrathful manifestations of Sipé Gyalmo that specifically protects from infectious disease through the use of empowered water. Translation of this text, The Heartdrop of Si Gyal that is All-pervasive and Clears Away Afflictive Emotions and Illness, has been published in both English and French. Because this is a restricted text, it is available only for those who have received transmission for the practice. (If you have received transmission and would like to order a copy of the translation, email Raven Cypress Wood at the email address listed below with the name of the teacher and the year that you received transmission and you will be given the ordering information.)

“OM!

This water of nectar has the nature of wisdom and medicine.

May all negative karma, afflictive emotions and discursive thoughts of migrating beings be washed away!

May all illness, external negative forces, karmic potentialities, and contaminations be purified!

Like a deity of medicine, may you have health and happiness!”

— From The Heartdrop of Si Gyal that is All-pervasive and Clears Away Afflictive Emotions and Illness

In addition to the practices specifically using water as a method of purification, healing, and empowerment, there are many practices and mantra that can be used to transform water from an ordinary substance to one that is imbued with extraordinary qualities. For example, the great mantra of the Yungdrung Bön tradition has extraordinary power and is not considered secret. It can be recited aloud and also shared. This mantra can be recited one hundred times or more, without the interruption of ordinary speech, then the breath is blown onto clean water used for drinking or cleansing. According to the chapter within the MA TRI tantra entitled The Thirty-two Benefits of the Sufficient Recitation of the Precious Lamp:

“Anyone affected by contaminated energy, latent karmic potentialities, misfortune, or defilements, having recited this MA TRI mantra into pure, clean water, if they ritually wash for seven mornings, even karmic defilements will be purified.  Removing defilements is a benefit of this precious lamp.”

— From The Thirty-two Benefits of the Recitation Practice of the Precious Lamp

The Heartdrop of Jamma is an aural transmission from Khandro Sherap Lo Pélma who is a manifestation of Sherap Jamma and a deity who is specifically practiced to develop the intellect. In The Heartdrop of Jamma, the practitioner uses the power of the mantric syllables to transform each aspect of their body into one of Jamma’s countless manifestations. This text is commonly recited by Yungdrung Bön families after the final meal of the day. This texts lists many benefits of its recitation. This includes the use of water.

“If you recite the mantra to good quality water mixed with powdered, medicinal incense containing blessed medicine and the six excellent substances, 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.” 

— From The Heartdrop of Jamma

The English, Spanish, and French translations of The Heartdrop of Jamma have been published and are available to anyone through this link: https://www.lulu.com/search?page=1&q=raven+cypress+wood&pageSize=10&adult_audience_rating=00

In addition to the above-mentioned practices, the Yungdrung Bön tradition includes the daily practice of washing with empowered water that is used each morning most commonly by those with ordination or genyen vows. However, this practice is open to anyone. One of the commonly used prayers for this practice is The Cleansing Rite Supplication. The English translation of this prayer has been made freely available to the worldwide sangha and can be downloaded from the Publications page of this website.

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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The Five Elements: Space

ah-w-watermark  The element of Space is called namkha in Tibetan.  It is symbolized by the shape of a circle and the color white.  The unique vibration of this element is the sound ‘AH’.  It is associated with the center.  In general, Space allows  for the many varied manifestations of the other elements without interfering or being damaged in any way.

Environmentally, the sky allows the manifestation of many types of weather, planets, stars, animals, etc.  Everything that exists, exists within Space.  Everything that has ever happened, that is happening right now, or that will happen in the future, happens within the element of Space.  Among the five elements, Space is the strongest because it is indestructible.  Although anything can happen in Space, nothing diminishes or damages it in any way.

Within our bodies, the element of Space is associated with our awareness.   It is also associated with the heart.  When the element of Space is balanced within us, we are aware of ourselves and our surroundings without losing ourselves or being overwhelmed by events or experiences.  Even in the midst of difficult circumstances, we do not lose ourselves or feel constricted with worry.  We are open to experience without being vulnerable to it.

However, if the element of Space is in excess, we are literally ‘spacey’.  Rather than being grounded in Space, we drift from one thing to another without connecting to anything.  We lose track of ourselves and our purpose.  We become lost in Space and easily distracted.

If the Space element is deficient, we feel as if we are being suffocated by life.  We feel as though there are too many demands, too many obligations, too much ‘out there’ and not enough of ‘us’.  We begin to say to ourselves and to others, “I need some space!”  We have lost contact with the Space within ourselves.

In order to bring the element of Space back into balance, there are specific yogic exercises within the Yungdrung Bön tradition which use the focus of the mind together with the breath and movement of the physical body to balance and strengthen each of the elements within us.  To learn more about these yogic exercises see Healing with Form, Energy and Light by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche.

As the other four elements are brought into balance, the Space element naturally becomes balanced as well.  Allowing Space for experiences rather than struggling with them develops the relationship with the indestructible quality of the element of Space.

In the more advanced teachings of Yungdrung Bön, Space is the most important element.  Recognizing and becoming familiar with the pure, luminous, boundless Space of the mind is the practice of wisdom.  This Space is the basis for all things that arise, including all of the phenomena of the other four elements.  Many people are uncomfortable with too much Space.  This is clear by the seemingly endless things that we use to distract and entertain ourselves.  However, we can develop more comfort and familiarity with the Space element by minimizing these distractions and developing our capacity to relax into the stillness of our body, the silence of not talking, and the spaciousness of our mind that has taken a break from worry and emotional upset.  This kind of taking a break from constant movement and thought is the best medicine for physical, emotional and spiritual well being.

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The Five Elements: Wind

yang-w-watermark         The element of Wind or Air is called lung in Tibetan.  It is symbolized by the shape of a rectangle and the color green.  The unique vibration of this element is the sound ‘YANG’.  It is associated with the direction North.  In general, Wind gives the ability to move, change, and transform.  Even within popular culture, the phrase ‘Winds of Change’ is commonly used in songs, poems, and even political speeches to express a time of change and transformation.

Historically, Wind has played a large part in affecting the course of events by determining the ability of war ships to attack, or not.  By allowing explorers to reach their destinations, or not.  And through calm or violent weather, determining the success or failure of many ventures.

Environmentally, Wind has often been seen as an expression of the supernatural or the divine.  In many cultures, a gentle Wind that arises at the conclusion of  a ceremony is a sign of its success.   In Greek mythology, there are twelve different gods associated with each of the winds of the twelve directions. Ecologically, the Wind’s quality of movement is important as a source of seed and pollen dispersal for plants as well as having a profound effect upon weather and climate.   It can be beneficial such as being used as a power source for transportation, energy or recreational activities.  Or it can be indescribably destructive through the force of tornadoes and hurricanes.

Within our bodies, the element of Wind is associated with our breath and is responsible for providing the ability for things to move.   It is specifically associated with the lungs.  When the element of Wind is balanced within us, we can be flexible.  We move from worry and anxiety to a solution.  We are able to let go of our point of view and see the perspective of others.  If the Wind element is developed, we easily move from anger to love, fear to peacefulness and from feeling blocked to feeling unblocked.  Even in the midst of a problem, we remain aware of all of the things that are going right.  Wind is also associated with communication and verbal expression.  Well developed Wind can also give the ability to communicate or receive information psychically and to perform acts that are beyond the limitations of the physical world.

In the Yungdrung Bön tradition, it is believed that the mind is effected by the movement of subtle wind.  Therefore, if the element of Wind is in excess, one of the effects is that the mind is unable to concentrate because it is constantly moving from one thing to another.  We are impatient.  There is an almost constant need to talk or ask questions.  But this kind of talking has little depth and we are thinking of our next question even before the first one is answered.  We are unable to meditate because of the constant movement of the mind which often prompts the body to begin moving.  To the extreme, an excess of Wind can cause severe headaches or even madness.

If the Wind element is deficient, we feel blocked.  There is an inability to progress in our outward activities or our inner growth and spiritual practice.  We are stuck.  Things become stagnant and stale.  There is no freshness.  Our mind is still, but there is no clarity or sharpness to our awareness.

In order to bring the element of Wind back into balance, there are specific yogic exercises within the Yungdrung Bön tradition which use the focus of the mind together with the breath and movement of the physical body to balance and strengthen each of the elements within us.  To learn more about these yogic exercises see Healing with Form, Energy and Light by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche.

Also, the simple act of inhaling and exhaling with awareness can be quite helpful.  Imagine inhaling pure, fresh Wind or Air and then exhaling all impure, stale Wind.  Imagine this Wind traveling throughout the body.  Similarly, imagine a ‘Wind of Change’ gently blowing into any area of your life that feels stuck.  If the Wind Element feels disturbed and there is too much erratic movement, then focus more on the Element of Earth and imagine the Wind becoming calm and stable.

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The Five Elements: Fire

ram-w-watermarkThe element of Fire is called mé in Tibetan.  It is symbolized by the shape of a triangle and the color red.  The unique vibration of this element is the sound ‘RAM’.  It is associated with the direction West.  In general, Fire provides enthusiasm, creativity and intuition.

Environmentally, our dependence upon the element of Fire is clear by the importance of the sun for life on the planet.  The inner core of the earth is dominated by the element of Fire and it is believed to be about the same temperature as that of the surface of the sun.  Fire has enabled us to cook, which greatly increases the amount of food available to us.  And it has also allowed us to live in climates which would ordinarily be too cold.

In the Yungdrung Bön tradition, spiritual realization and the perfection of wisdom are associated with inner heat.  There is a spiritual practice, called Tummo, which is specifically develops and increases this inner heat which naturally ripens our positive qualities and burns away our negative qualities. This practice involves a very detailed visualization of Fire.

Within our bodies, the element of Fire rules the warmth of our bodies and the heat of digestion.  More specifically, it is associated with the liver.  When the element of Fire is balanced within us, we are engaged with activities that inspire us and bring us the joy of accomplishment.  We are enthusiastic about life and feel joy.  A balanced Fire element gives us the energy and drive to accomplish our goals and find creative solutions for any obstacles that might arise.

If the Fire element is in excess, we can be quick to become agitated, frustrated and angry.  We can overreact with our actions or words.  We find many things intolerable and can view others as our opponents.  There is constant movement and instability.  Our thoughts are incessant.  Physiologically, we can experience fevers and skin symptoms.

If the Fire element is deficient, we lack energy and inspiration.  Nothing excites us.  We don’t feel motivated or feel that we lack the energy necessary to manifest our goals.  We lack curiosity and life can feel like a boring routine.  Physiologically, our metabolism can slow and we have difficulty digesting our food.

In order to bring the element of Fire back into balance, there are methods such as Tibetan medicine, ritual and meditation practices such as Tummo.  There are specific yogic exercises within the Yungdrung Bön tradition which use the focus of the mind together with the breath and movement of the physical body to balance and strengthen the elements within us.  To learn more about these yogic exercises see Healing with Form, Energy and Light by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche.

Additionally, if the Fire element has become weakened, spend more time being active with things that bring you joy.  Spend time with extroverted, enthusiastic people.  Go to an unfamiliar environment and learn about it.  Greet strangers with a smile or begin a conversation with someone about a subject that interests you.  You can also spend time near an open fire such as in a fireplace or with a candle and meditate upon the energy and quality of the fire existing inside of you.  If the Fire element is in excess, spend more time with earthy people who have a grounding effect upon you.  Slow down.  Be mindful of rising agitation and take deep breaths to release or practice patience with yourself and others.  Take time to finish and enjoy the accomplishment of one project before beginning another.  Spiritually, balanced Fire gives us the motivation and joyful effort needed to be diligent with our practice.  It also gives the ability to progress more quickly in our development.

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