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Medicine with Swirling Rays of Light: Main Practice and Supreme Result

H.H. 34th Menri Trizin ceremonially grinding ingredients of the mendrup

Menri Monastery in Dolanji, India is currently conducting the Great Retreat of the Medicine with Swirling Rays of Light, Mendrup Ö Zer Khyilwa. (See previous article for the retreat schedule, description of the preliminary practices, and overview of the history and lineage of the great mendrup retreat: https://ravencypresswood.com/2024/04/13/the-great-retreat-of-the-medicine-with-swirling-rays-of-light/) There are many mendrup cycles within the Yungdrung Bön tradition with each relying upon a different yidam, or meditational deity. Some mendrup cycles are vast and complex and many others are much shorter and simpler. The Medicine with Swirling Rays of Light cycle is one of the most extensive and complex cycles and is according to the trowo, or wrathful deities. Although all the peaceful and wrathful deities are invoked during the mendrup ceremony, for the main practice of the Medicine with Swirling Rays of Light the primary yidam is the embodiment of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap’s Enlightened Mind, Trowo Tsochok Khagying. 

Trowo Tsochok Khagying and his consort Khala Dukmo

Once the outer and inner preliminary practices and empowerments of the mendrup ritual are complete, the mandala palace surrounded by various offerings and the bags of mendrup ingredients becomes the focus of spiritual activity. From the beginning of the main ritual and until its conclusion, the main mantra for empowering the mendrup is recited continuously day and night. Within the main temple, designated monks take shifts reciting the mantra and circumambulating the mandala. Outside the main temple, everyone is encouraged to recite the mantra as much as possible and to circumambulate the temple complex. The medicinal ingredients of the mendrup ingredients alone are beneficial but they do not contain blessings. For that, it is necessary to perform the practice of the deities, make offerings and supplications, and especially to recite many hundreds of thousands of the mantra. In this way, power and blessings are conferred to the physical substances.

Mandala for the deities of absolutely complete and indestructible pacification used during the mendrup retreat

The mandala at the center of these activities supports the continual presence of the deities by being imbued with images and substances whose qualities correlate with those of the respective deities. Every element of color, shape, direction, and size has its own meaning and importance. A special vessel of mendrup ingredients is placed above the mandala in the center and in each of the cardinal and intermediate directions. These vessels in the center and the four cardinal directions contain ingredients associated with the qualities of their respective directions and are covered with silk cloths ornamented with the symbol of the respective directions. These directions of the mandala correspond with the geographical ones. The four vessels in the intermediate directions are covered in yellow.

The mandala palace surrounded by bags of mendrup ingredients connected by the zung tak cords

The center of the mandala is the seat of the principal deity Trowo Tsochok Khagying. This is the place of the Suchness Buddha Family. In this case the center is characterized by the color yellow, and associated with the element of earth. The yellow covering is ornamented with a white AH syllable which is the seed syllable of Trowo Tsochok Khagying, and a red MA syllable which is the seed syllable of his consort Khala Dukmo.

The East, which is always considered to be the front gate of the mandala, is the place of the Yungdrung Buddha Family. It is characterized by the symbol of a yungdrung and, in this case, the color white and the element of space.

The South is the place of the Jewel Buddha Family. It is characterized by the symbol of a wish-fulfilling jewel and the color blue, and is associated with the element of water.

The West is the place of the Lotus Buddha Family. It is characterized by the symbol of a pure lotus and the color red, and is associated with the element of fire.

The North is the place of the Wheel of Bön Buddha Family. It is characterized by an eight-spoked wheel of the Bön teachings and the color green, and is associated with the element of wind or air.

His Holiness the 34th Menri Trizin leads the practice of Medicine with Swirling Rays of Light with the zung tak cords reaching from the mandala to his throne

A cord is attached to each of the five main mendrup vessels in the center and cardinal directions. The color of this cord corresponds to its respective direction. These are the zung tak, or empowerment cords. They are stretched to the bags of mendrup ingredients surrounding the mandala, wound together, and then brought to the throne of the ceremony leader, in this case His Holiness 34th Menri Trizin Rinpoche. Throughout the performance of the rituals and mantra recitations, these empowerment cords are blown upon in order to carry the power and blessings to the physical substances. Similarly, having the cords connect the mandala to the bags of mendrup ingredients in the surrounding area imbues them with the power and blessings coming from the presence of the enlightened deities.

The nine vessels of mendrup ingredients after being ceremonially brought from the mandala palace

Once the requisite vessels of mendrup ingredients and offerings are placed above and surrounding the mandala, it is closed from view until the conclusion of the ritual. When necessary to interact with the immediate area of the mandala, those appointed to do so have the responsibility to abide by the tantric rules of behavior in order to not introduce any defilements or obstacles into the ritual environment. Once the rituals and mantric recitations are complete, the boundary is opened and the vessels of mendrup ingredients on the mandala and the bags surrounding it are ceremonially carried to where the ingredients are ground into a fine powder. First, the vessels from the mandala are opened and the ritual leaders ceremonially grind and mix the ingredients.

His Holiness 34th Menri Trizin Rinpoche and His Eminence Menri Pönlop Rinpoche ceremonially grind the ingredients from the central vessel of mendrup

However, the majority of ingredients are ground into a fine powder using modern methods and then distributed to the public. Major sponsors of the Great Retreat of Medicine with the Swirling Rays of Light will receive larger portions of the mendrup in appreciation for their support. Yungdrung Bön monasteries will receive a larger amount as well to dispense to their respective communities. Most of the mendrup will be stored at Menri and distributed over the coming years with the mindfulness that it must last until the next great mendrup retreat is performed which could be decades from now.

The primary mantra of the Medicine with Swirling Rays of Light is SO OM BA WA DÉ NA RA SA YA NA YU DRANG DU TSI SO THA.* This mantra is not like an ordinary sentence that can be translated into a conceptual meaning. The power of the mantra is beyond concepts. Yet, although it is not possible to be translated, specific qualities and associations can be made with each of the syllables. However, the practitioner should not restrict the power and blessings of the mantra to these limited intellectual understandings.

SO: syllable of enlightened body, enlightened speech, and enlightened mind; as well as the three enlightened bodies of the Bönku, Dzok ku, and Tülku 

OM: syllable of the five wisdoms (1) the wisdom of emptiness, (2) mirror-like wisdom, (3) all-accomplishing wisdom, (4) discriminating wisdom, and (5) the wisdom of equanimity

BA WA: syllables of the high spiritual masters

DÉ NA: syllables of giving, of bestowing

RA SA YA NA: syllables of the highest and most extraordinary medicines that cure illness and pacify obstacles

YU DRANG: syllables of the Zhang Zhung language meaning du tsi

DU TSI: syllables of blessed nectar medicine that has the power and blessings to heal all illness and disturbances, and to support longevity and good fortune

SO THA *: syllable of transforming the impure body, speech, and mind of ordinary beings into enlightened body, speech, and mind. The syllables that dissolve all illness and obstacles into pure space.

When reciting, it is of the utmost importance to connect with the mantra as a request of the enlightened ones, the yidams, the khandro, and the lamas to bestow their blessings and to transform your impure body, speech, and mind into pure body, speech, and mind; and to remove all outer, inner, and secret obstacles. Reciting this mantra can transform any liquid into medicine which gives it the potency to pacify the afflictive emotions. For example, if one is drinking juice or milk the mantra can be recited and blown into the liquid. This transforms the liquid from an ordinary substance to a blessed substance.

Night-time circumambulation of the outside of Menri Monastery’s main temple

Mendrup can be taken by anyone at anytime for any condition. It is considered to be a single medicine for hundreds of illnesses. Its benefits are not restricted to human beings and can be given to animals or to the environment. The benefits of ingesting or wearing mendrup are unimaginable. It contains the blessings and power of the enlightened ones, the deities of medicine, the wisdom deities, the protectors, and the deities of wealth. It is said that even if one talks continuously for fifty years trying to explain every benefit of mendrup, the explanation would not be finished. 

Having faith in the blessings and power of the mendrup gives energy, motivation, and openness to seek out and receive the medicine. Faith in the medicine has such power that even just seeing the mendrup can bring benefit and blessings. Simply by having the mendrup touch the tongue, it is possible to attain enlightenment. It is a single medicine for hundreds of ills. It has the potency to cure the three kinds of physical illnesses which arise from the imbalance of wind, bile, or phlegm. It supports longevity, personal power, vitality, and good fortune. It is like a wish-fulfilling jewel. It can bring food to the hungry and safety to those who need shelter, and so on. It opens the subtle wisdom channels within the body and blocks the movement of the winds related to the five poisons.

It can also be worn against the body for blessings and protection. Most amulets of the Yungdrung Bön tradition contain a small amount of mendrup as one of the required ingredients. If someone who is dying is given mendrup or a sachet of mendrup is placed around their neck, it will connect them with the peaceful and wrathful deities during the intermediate state after death and will ensure that they have a positive rebirth. 

The mendrup ingredients are finely ground, packaged in small amounts, and then distributed for free to the public

Aside from requiring storage in a clean and respected place, there are only two restrictions associated with mendrup. First, it should never be traded or sold, but rather offered freely as a gift especially from a master to their students. Second, when ingesting the mendrup, meat should not be eaten soon afterwards. In general, it is taken each day in the early morning on an empty stomach. A small amount of the powdered substance is put into warm or cold water and allowed to dissolve slightly. Ideally, the main mantra is recited before drinking the liquid. Alternately, it can be placed directly into the mouth on the tongue and swallowed. A greater or lesser amount can be used, and it can be taken anytime day or night. However, whenever ingesting mendrup, one should be aware of receiving the unimaginable power and blessings of the enlightened deities that overcome all afflictions and suffering.

If you would like to make a donation to support this very auspicious occasion, you can do so through H.E. Menri Pönlop’s United States retreat center by following this link: http://kwling.org/ Follow the link and then click the donate button in the upper right of the page. You can make a notation that the donation is for the mendrup ceremony.

The Medical College of Sorig Bum Zhi Menri Ling grinding and processing the mendrup ingredients

General Overview of the Necessary Ingredients for Medicine with Swirling Rays of Light

All of the necessary ingredients and instructions for their proper collection are enumerated in the text of Medicine with Swirling Rays of Light, Mendrup Ö Zer Khyilwa.་ If they are counted individually, there are over 30,000 ingredients. This list is included as a mere example of the diversity of necessary ingredients. All ingredients should be of the highest quality and without faults or defilements. Sometimes, as in the case of many types of roots, a specific size and shape are necessary in order for them to be acceptable ingredients. Ingredients from sacred places such as Kongpo Bönri and Mt. Tisé are especially sought after. The collection of the ingredients needed can take many years and be quite costly.

One of the most important ingredients to be included is mendrup containing the essence of the previous ancient mendrup retreats. After that are the primary ingredients of arura, barura, and kyurara which in combination are considered to be a great panacea.

  • arura [Chebulic myrobalan, Terminalia Chebula]
  • barura [Terminalia belerica Roxb]
  • kyurura [Embelic Myrobalan, Emblica Officinalis]

The six excellent substances, the five grains, and the five precious things are also of primary importance. These substances are highly valued and are regularly added to torma, healing water, as well as being placed inside statues, wealth vases, chortens, and so on. The six substances are:

  • chu gong: It is a kind of essence of water sometimes translated as bamboo essence. There are three kinds of chu gong: (1) chu gong collected from wood or trees, (2) chu gong collected from rocks, and (3) chu gong collected from water
  • saffron, there are five types and the best quality should be chosen
  • cloves
  • nutmeg
  • green cardamom
  • black cardamom

The five grains: although it is common to add as many different kinds of grains as possible, it always includes:

  • barley
  • wheat
  • rice
  • beans
  • sesame

Precious things such as:

  • gold
  • silver
  • copper
  • metal
  • pearl
  • coral
  • turquoise
  • zi stone
  • crystal
  • white conch

There are many different kinds of plants, herbs, and trees that must be collected from many different geographical areas. These must be growing in the right place, be at the correct stage of growth, be gathered at the proper time of day, and be dried properly according to the character of the plant as well as the qualities to be enhanced. Thus, a plant that is gathered for its ability to bring warmth should be growing in the sun, gathered on a sunny day when it is warm, and be dried in the sun and heat. Sometimes the entire plant is used and other times only the flowers, leaves, stalk, buds, fruit, berries, pollen, seeds, or roots are needed. Quantities vary according to what can be acquired, the rarity of the ingredient, and the hazards in acquiring it.

Additional ingredients include the nine kinds of water which is water from:

  • the snow of a high mountain
  • a waterfall
  • river water
  • sacred lakes
  • ocean water
  • spring water
  • rain water
  • water that never freezes (There is drinkable water in the Himalayas that never freezes and is not a hot spring)
  • milk from a pure white cow
  • additional kinds of water are often added such as mineral water

There is a multitude of other ingredients. These include:

  • the three kinds of incense: white sandalwood, red sandalwood, valerian
  • white salt, black salt, and rock salt
  • molasses, dark brown sugar, and light brown sugar
  • crystallized sugar
  • unsalted curds
  • unsalted yogurt
  • unsalted butter from many different types of animals
  • milk from many different types of animals
  • honey
  • shellac resin
  • special cloth
  • a collection of various knotted threads
  • amber and a variety of other tree resins
  • sulphur
  • camphor
  • white and dark-colored grapes
  • calcite
  • many different kinds of oils
  • many different kinds of eggs
  • many different kinds of alcohol
Mendrup vessels from the mandala being uncovered

* The syllable “THA” is slightly aspirated and pronounced by placing the tongue behind the front teeth. This is different from a hard “TA” sound where the tongue is pressed against the roof of the mouth such as in the word “tower.” It is also different from the English language pronunciation of “TH” where the tongue is placed between the teeth such as in the word “thing.”

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The Great Retreat of the Medicine with Swirling Rays of Light

The altar for the deity surrounded by offerings and the powdered medicine

During the 3rd lunar month on the 3rd-18th lunar days which correspond with April 11th-26th on the Western calendar, Menri Monastery in Dolanji, India will perform the Great Retreat of Medicine with Swirling Rays of Light, also known as The Great Mendrup Retreat. This is one of the largest rituals within the Yungdrung Bön Religious tradition and has an unbroken lineage from the enlightened Lord Tönpa Shenrap. Once an individual is enthroned as the abbot of Menri Monastery, they are required to do three things: (1) establish a reliquary chorten for the previous abbot, and (2) bestow empowerments to disciples, and (3) perform a mendrup retreat at least once during their lifetime. His Holiness the 33rd Menri Trizin Lungtok Tenpé Nyima Rinpoche performed the great mendrup ritual three times: once before the establishment of Pal Shenten Menri Ling in India, once in 1988, and once again in 2009.

A bag containing the mendrup ingredients

Its takes years of preparation in order to properly gather the tens of thousands of herbs, minerals, precious substances, and so on. For example, similar to acquiring ingredients for traditional Tibetan medicine, plants that are used for their warming qualities must be gathered and dried in the sun, and plants that are used for their cooling abilities much be gathered and dried in the shade in cooler areas. All of the primary and secondary ingredients are outlined within the mendrup text. There are many many traditions and texts. In this case, the text being followed is Mendrup Özer Kyilwa, Accomplishment of Medicine with Swirling Rays of Light. This ritual was taught by Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché and first performed by Buddha Chimé Tsukphu. It was passed down through the generations of masters to the great lama Drenpa Namkha in the 7th centure C.E. At that time, the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition was undergoing severe persecution from the Buddhist king and this mendrup text along with many other texts were hidden in order to protect them from destruction. In that way, many of the Bön texts and religious items became hidden treasures.

After the time of strong persecution had passed, it is said that the text was brought out of hiding along with vessels of mendrup in 1108 C.E. by Rikdzin Chenpo Gyermi Nyi Ö. This was passed to the the 4th abbot of Yeru Wensaka, Nyima Gyaltsen Rinpoche. From that time until the destruction by flood of Yeru Wesanka, the mendrup retreat was performed once in the lifetime of eighteen abbots of Yeru Wensaka. Having received the transmissions and empowerments for the mendrup cycle, the founder and 1st abbot of Menri Monastery recovered the texts and the mendrup and used them to begin the tradition at Tashi Menri Monastery in Tibet. One of the most important mendrup ingredients is a small amount of the blessed medicine that was created in previous mendrup retreats and safeguarded to be used as an ingredient in subsequent mendrup rituals. In that way, every mendrup contains some amount of mendrup from ancient times.

Mendrup from various rituals

The Tibetan term mendrup [Wylie: sman sgrub] is a compound of two words: “men” generally meaning medicine, and “drup” meaning to accomplish or to achieve. Thus, the purpose of the ritual is create a medicine which is a consecrated and empowered panacea for both inner and outer ills and disturbances rather than a medicine for a specific illness. The final product is a consecrated and blessed, finely powdered substance that is distributed for free to the ordained, to laypersons, and to the general public. This blessed medicine is ingested orally, worn as a protective amulet, used as an offering, and included as an ingredient in many other rituals within the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition.

Mendrup

The retreat generally begins with the recounting of the origin, history, and purpose of the great mendrup retreat. Ritually, the retreat begins with a ransom ceremony in order to pacify and expel obstacles. Masked dances of the protectors are performed and a boundary is secured for the entire retreat space and all participants in order to keep out obstacles and to keep in the blessings and power generated during the retreat. After that, the ritual of Requesting Permission to Gather Soil addresses the earth spirits in order to request permission to gather soil in order to construct the necessary mandala palace for the deities.

Once the mandala is constructed and a large variety of wonderful offerings are placed, the enlightened deities and their retinue are invited to come and reside within the mandala palace. After this, no one other than those involved in the ritual are allowed to come near the mandala. Thus begins the period of the foundational practices of taking refuge, generating a mind of enlightenment, admitting wrongdoing and receiving purification, and so on. Once this foundation is complete, the main ritual of the mendrup ceremony begins by requesting and receiving consecration and blessings for the substances. During this time, the mantra of blessing nectar is continuously recited by both the ordained and the lay practitioners.

Mantra of Blessing Nectar for the Great Mendrup Ceremony: SO OM BA WA DÉ NA RA SA YA NA YU DRANG DUTSI SO THA

Masked dance of the enlightened protectors

The powdered mendrup is ingested daily, or as desired, either in water or by itself. The amount is usually a generous pinch, or about 1/4 teaspoon. It can also be placed in a locket and worn on the body. The traditional amulets worn by Yungdrung Bön followers contain mendrup as one of the required ingredients. It is also an ingredient in chortens, sa tsa, torma, and so on. When treated with faith and respect, the benefits of either ingesting or wearing mendrup are profound and immeasurable. When it is ingested or worn, the three poisons, the three kinds of illness [imbalances of wind, bile, or phlegm], and the three kinds of external disturbances [from the spirits above, the water spirits below, and the earth spirits in-between] are unable to become established and cause harm. When it is offered to the meditational deities or enlightened protectors, it purifies our sacred commitments with them and gives the ability for us to receive their blessings. In this life, it brings success to whatever goal or intention is wanted. It brings longevity, sharpens the intellect, brings wisdom, cures illness, and increases the life-force and prosperity. It is like a wish-fulfilling gem.

“Deities of the mandala will hold you within their compassion.

The poisons, illness, and malevolent forces will not be able to be established.

In this life, whatever is wanted will be accomplished.

And one will progress along the ground of the Great Seal.”

From the Result and Good Qualities of Accomplishing the Blazing Mountain of Blessed Nectar
His Holiness the 34th Menri Trizin ritually breaks the ground in order to obtain soil for the mandala of the deities

If you would like to make a donation to support this very auspicious occasion, you can do so through H.E. Menri Pönlop’s United States retreat center by following this link: http://kwling.org/ Follow the link and then click the donate button in the upper right of the page. You can make a notation that the donation is for the mendrup ceremony.

Schedule of Events at Menri Monastery

April 11th: Welcome and speeches, the ransom effigies are sent out in order to dispel obstacles

April 12th: The procession and ritual for Requesting Permission to Gather Soil, and preliminaries for the Nam Dak and Long Gyé empowerments

April 14th: His Holiness the 34th Menri Trizin will confer the actual Nam Dak and Long Gyé ritual cycle empowerments.

April 16th: His Holiness the 34th Menri Trizin will bestow the oral transmission of the peaceful, wrathful, and medicine texts to everyone in attendance. His Eminence Menri Pönlop Rinpoche will give a talk explaining the history and benefit of the great mendrup ceremony.

April 17th: There will be a showing of the sacred objects of Rayna Menling Nunnery and a tour of their facilities.

April 18th & 19th: There will be a two-day seminar of Zhangzhung and Tibetan studies.

April 20th: Teaching on the Four Wheels of Bön and teaching on the practice of tantra

April 21st: His Holiness the 34th Menri Trizin and His Eminence Menri Pönlop Rinpoche will lead the procession to visit the medical laboratory where the medicine containers will be opened and the ingredients will be mixed, purified, and ground into a fine powder.

April 22nd: There will be an exhibition of the ritual tools, costumes, and sacred items required for the practice of the Nine Ways of Bön.

April 25th: There will be a guided tour of the Mutri Tsépo Tibet-Zhangzhung Research Center.

April 26th: His Holiness the 34th Menri Trizin will bestow the empowerments of the Künzang A Sel [Clear AH of Künzang], Chi Pung Zhi Tro [Cycle of the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities], Ö Zer Khyilwa [Swirling Rays of Light], and the Trowo Tshé Drup [Trowo’s Accomplishment of Longevity].

April 27th: The monks, nuns, and lay disciples will form a procession carrying the medicines which will later be distributed to everyone present. The ceremony will conclude with an address by His Holiness the 34th Menri Trizin and His Eminence Pönlop Rinpoche.

Gathering soil for the mandala of the deities

Raven Cypress Wood ©All Rights Reserved. No content, in part or in whole, is allowed to be used without direct permission from the author.

Don’t want to miss a post? Scroll to the bottom and click “Follow this blog.”

This website has always been supported by the donations of the worldwide Yungdrung Bön community. Want to join the mandala of Nine Ways supporters? Follow this link https://ravencypresswood.com/donate/ It’s easy through Paypal and Zelle.

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