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Sacred Music

monk playing large cymbals Triten Norbutse

A monk plays the cymbals during a ritual at the Yungdrung Bon monastery of Triten Norbutse near Kathmandu, Nepal

Spiritual Discipline

monk in 1936 Gyantse and food opening for strict retreats

1936 Gyantse, Tibet

In order to accomplish the benefits of a spiritual practice, it can be necessary to be removed from the ordinary world.  Here, a monk poses in front of a closed retreat hut.  Inside, the retreatant is in complete isolation except for this small opening through which food is passed each day.  These types of retreats continue for 49 days, 100 days and sometimes for years.

The Four Immeasurable Qualities: Compassion

4 Immeasurables snying rje Compassion    One of the Four Immeasurable Qualities is ‘Compassion‘.  In the Tibetan language, it is ‘Nying jé‘.  Nying jé is the practice and aspiration that all beings be free from suffering and the causes of suffering.  Training the mind to feel an authentic quality of compassion towards all beings, one sets the intention that all actions arising from one’s body, speech and mind will help to alleviate the suffering of all beings that one encounters either directly or indirectly.

The Four Immeasurable Qualities: Love

4 Immeasurables byams pa love

One of the Four Immeasurable Qualities is ‘Love‘.  In the Tibetan language, it is ‘Jampa‘.  Jampa is the practice and aspiration that all beings have happiness and the causes for happiness.  Training to feel an authentic quality of love towards all beings, one sets the intention that all actions arising from one’s body, speech and mind will support the happiness of all beings that one encounters either directly or indirectly.

Essence Mantra of the Yungdrung Bon

DU TRI SU mantra carved into stone

Stones containing mantra are often placed in stone walls around a village.  This is one of the three heart mantras of the Yungdrung Bön tradition.

AH KAR A MÉ DU TRI SU NAK PO ZHI ZHI MAL MAL SOHA.