Blog Archives

Birth Anniversary of Karu Drupwang Tenzin Rinchen: Pilgrim, Sage, & Champion of Yungdrung Bön

Yungdrung Phüntsok Ling in the village of Lubrak

The 8th day of the 10th lunar month is the birth anniversary of the intrepid scholar and spiritual master Karu Drupwang Tenzin Rinchen Gyaltsen Dechen Nyingpo, better known as Karu Drupwang Rinpoche. In 2023, this lunar date corresponds with November 20th. Born at sunrise in 1801 C.E. to a wealthy family in Kham, Tibet, his birth was precipitated by miraculous signs and his autobiography recounts that he was urged to take rebirth by a group of deities so that he could benefit beings through his manifestation. Throughout his life, he traveled extensively on lengthy pilgrimages and was a strong advocate for maintaining the authentic history of Yungdrung Bön sacred sites while maintaining a nonsectarian view and having meaningful interactions with a wide range of people from kings to outcastes. Throughout Tibet and Nepal, he became well known for both his intellect and his magical power.

An emanation of the 8th century B.C.E. yogi Lishu Taring, the first of his many visionary encounters occurred at the young age of two years old when he was visited by this sage and given extensive, detailed spiritual instructions. At the age of six, he took monastic ordination and began his studies at the nearby Nor Ling Monastery. He was an excellent student and was highly praised by his teachers for his achievements. However, upon the death of his father when he was thirteen, the family’s wealth, status, and influence quickly began to decline. As such, his position within the monastery also declined and the previous jealousy of his peers turned to outright hostility. After a few years of suffering from insults and ill treatment, he left the monastery in order to undergo a lengthy, solitary retreat. This retreat was interrupted however due to unforeseen circumstances that required him to fulfill his monastic responsibilities at Nor Ling. Again experiencing abuse from his peers, he made the decision to begin a lengthy pilgrimage. This began his lifetime of travel, visionary encounters, and his lasting impact on the the spiritual life and culture of the people of Dolpo and Lubrak in Nepal.

His first pilgrimage brought him to Kongpo Bönri where he had many extraordinary visionary encounters. He continued on to Tashi Menri and Kharna in Central Tibet, as well as many Zhang Zhung sacred sites as he made his way to Western Tibet. During these journeys, he would often discover that a Bönpo sacred site had been subsumed into Buddhist lore and history with no remaining Bönpo relevance. At this, he would fervently go about doing his best to correct the historical and religious record. One of his most well-known compositions is his detailed pilgrimage guide to Mount Tisé [a.k.a Mount Kailash], A Catalogue of Snowy Tisé which was written in 1844 C.E. This is the most detailed pilgrimage guide to this ancient sacred site and details its ancient connection with Yungdrung Bön.

The Southern side of Mount Tisé

He spent a great deal of time in the village of Lubrak and sponsored the construction of a village temple of Yungdrung Phüntsok Ling in 1846 C.E. During this time, he met an impoverished woman and her son. Being a widow, the mother was having great difficulty providing for her child. Moved with compassion and feeling a connection with the young boy, he took him under his care. This boy went on to become one of his main students and the renowned master Drogön Tenzin Nyima.

Karu Drupwang Rinpoche’s other well-known composition is the Mar Ti Duk Nga Rang Drol, Essential Instructions on the Self Liberation of the Five Poisons. He received this dzogchen text as a mind treasure when he was twenty-five years old. During one of his visits to Lubrak, he wrote this text down in order to support the spiritual needs of the community. These teachings continue to be a part of the annual ritual in Lubrak and Karu Drupwang’s original manuscript is still held in the village as one of its great treasures.

“As for mirror-like wisdom, externally, it is the wisdom of not grasping at the self-nature of appearances. Internally, it is the wisdom of not grasping at the self-nature of one’s own identity. Secretly, it is the wisdom of not grasping at one’s own natural mind. Most secretly, it is the wisdom of not grasping at one’s own essential nature.

Every appearance of ignorance and delusion that arises, is in actuality emptiness. This wisdom of knowing emptiness is the wisdom of absolute reality.” 

From the Mar Ti Duk Nga Rang Drol, Essential Instructions on the Self Liberation of the Five Poisons

After spending long periods of time throughout Dolpo and Mustang, he made his way to Kathmandu, Nepal. There, he was often at the stupa of Swayambunath begging for alms. At this sacred site, Karu Rinpoche continued to have vivid, visionary encounters. He traveled throughout the Kathmandu valley encountering a variety of people and cultures. However, in 1852 C.E. he returned to Tibet and became a root lama to the esteemed 23rd Menri Trizin Künkhen Nyima Tenzin. During this time, he also became the Khenpo of his former monastery, Nor Ling.

First pages of the Autobiography of Karu Drupwang Tenzin Rinchen

Upon the insistent urging of a disciple, he wrote an autobiography that was completed in 1845 C.E. which can be found in the temple of Samling in Dolpo, Nepal. Although the exact date of his passing beyond this life is not known, it is generally understood to have occurred some time in 1861 C.E.

Chapters within the Mar Ti Duk Nga Rang Drol, Essential Instructions on the Self Liberation of the Five Poisons:

  • Teachings on the Opportunities and Good Fortunes that are Difficult to Obtain from the Systematic Guidance for the Preliminary Practices of the Essential Guidance on the Self Liberation of the Five Poisons
  • Systematic Guidance Regarding the Difference Between Virtue and Wrongdoing, and Impermanence
  • Systematic Guidance on Going for Refuge
  • Systematic Guidance on Generating a Mind of Enlightenment
  • Systematic Guidance on Purifying Wrongdoing through Admission of Wrongdoing and Purification
  • Systematic Guidance on Completing the Accumulations through the Mandala Offering
  • Systematic Guidance on Receiving Blessings and Self-empowerment through Supplication
  • Teaching and Advice for Calm Abiding by Focusing on AH
  • Teaching and Advice for Searching the Mind and Awareness
  • Teaching and Advice for Introducing and Concentrating on the Mind
  • Teaching and Advice on the Path of the Six Aggregates
  • Teaching and Advice for Enhancing Gek Sel Practice
  • Teaching and Advice for Dark Retreat and Clear Light
  • Teaching and Advice for the Nourishment through Chulen [Extracting the Essence]
  • Teaching and Advice on the Six Important Points of Practice
  • Teaching and Advice for Abiding in the State of the Mind’s Essence
  • Teaching and Advice for Fully Realizing the Bön Essence
  • Teaching and Advice regarding the Result which is All-penetrating Wisdom
  • Teaching and Advice on the Power to Work with Deathless Birth
  • Teaching and Advice for Attaining Buddhahood with No Physical Aggregates Left Behind
  • Practice of the Goddess [Jamma]
  • The Clear Mirror of A Hundred Horoscopes of the Essential Instruction on the Self Liberation of the Five Poisons
  • A Little Song About the Connection Between the Relative and the Absolute
  • Abridged Preliminary Practices
  • Supplication of the Root Lama Drupwang Tenzin Rinchen [Composition of a disciple]
  • Expiation through Offering to the Lama
  • A Letter to the Ghosts and Demons that Suppresses Phenomenal Existence with its Majestic Brilliance

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.”

Want to join the mandala of Nine Ways supporters? Follow this link https://ravencypresswood.com/donate/ It’s easy through Paypal and Zelle.

Posted on | Image

The Time to Practice The Greatly Fierce, Secret Gekhö

Walchen Gekho with his consort, Queen of the Drala

Each year from the 22nd-29th lunar days of the Eighth Tibetan month, Menri Monastery in Dolanji, India holds an intensive retreat for the fierce yidam Walchen Gekhö. Specifically, they perform the practice from the text compiled by the Second Buddha Nyammé Sherap Gyaltsen Rinpoche, “Gekhö Sangwa Drakchen, The Greatly Fierce, Secret Gekhö.” In 2023, these lunar dates correspond with October 6th-13th on the Western calendar.

The tantric cycle of Gekhö contains 360 deities. Within the cycle of the Father Tantras, Walchen Gekhö is the manifestation of enlightened quality among the Five Supreme Embodiments. (See previous post: https://ravencypresswood.com/2016/06/05/the-five-supreme-embodiments/

Gekhö is a deity associated with the ancient land of Zhang Zhung, and his tantric practice was widespread throughout the kingdom. In the Zhang Zhung language, “Gekhö” means “demon tamer.” It is said that he originally descended upon the sacred mountain of Gang Tisé (also known as Mount Kailash), and that he and his retinue dwell there. However, even though there is a close association with an earthly abode, he is not a worldly guardian. Rather, he is the embodiment of enlightened quality that manifests as a meditational deity who protects Yungdrung Bön practitioners.

“In order to lead those who have not gained realization, Walchen Gekhö possesses the Five Bodies and the Five Primordial Wisdoms. Through the truth of pacification, and through these forceful, wrathful means, those who are untamed will be tamed!”

From the Essence Practice of the Fierce Champion, Zhang Zhung Meri

One manifestation of Walchen Gekhö is Zhang Zhung Meri. This yidam deity is closely associated with the dzogchen practice of the Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyü, The Aural Transmission of Zhang Zhung. The view of dzogchen is, by definition, perfected and beyond needing to apply any methods to develop or perfect it. However, because the practitioners of dzogchen have not yet fully realized this primordial perfection, the deity Zhang Zhung Meri offers protection and support while they are on the path of realization.

“É AH

Namo!

Buddhas of the three times, please listen and pay heed to me!

Having ignorance and a body of flesh, because of the influence of the material body and the afflictive emotions, I am not connected with the five wisdom bodies but are connected with deluded thoughts and afflictive emotions. I offer this open admission of wrongdoing to the buddhas of the three times. Please bestow the vivid accomplishment of the Five Enlightened Bodies to me!

Without the activities of compassionate, skillful means, and because of the afflictive emotion of pride that grasps at an identity, I have committed wrongdoing by elevating myself and lowering others, and I have acted from wrong views. I request tolerance from Ati Muwér! Please bestow the accomplishment of being equal to the changeless state!

Not equal with the state of powerful compassion, and overcome with the contamination of the cumulative actions of ignorance and hatred such as causing killing and condemnation, I openly admit my wrongdoing to the state of Walchen Gékhö. Please bestow the accomplishment of uninterrupted compassion! 

Because of anger and hatred that are produced, and not having a mind of loving kindness, I have been involved in killing and cutting the life force. I openly admit my wrongdoing to the gathering of Gékhö deities. Please bestow the accomplishment of being endowed with compassion and a mind of loving kindness!

Because of not being endowed with a state of clear wisdom, I have been lazy and acted from a clouded mind and delusion. I have improperly exploited and taken advantage of others. I openly admit my wrongdoing to the root deity Walchen Gékhö. Please bestow the accomplishment of a state of all-clear wisdom!

Because of having a hateful mind and not speaking truthfully, through pride and meaningless words, I have accumulated anguish [for others]. Because of the activity of deluded speech, I could become mute [in the future]. I openly admit my wrongdoing to the root deity Walchen Gékhö. Please bestow the accomplishment of a pleasant voice of truthful words!

Not having a mind of supreme generosity and devotion, I have been overcome by attachment, desire, and aggression. Because of the karma of improper, aggressive desire, I could become a cannibal-like spirit [in the future]. I openly admit my wrongdoing to the root deity Walchen Gékhö. Please bestow the accomplishment of a great rainfall of generosity!

Without a suitable intellect and not being broadminded, and because of the influence of jealousy, I have exalted myself and lowered others. Because of that, I could always be born as a human in an outlying, savage place [in the future]. I openly admit my wrongdoing to the root deity Walchen Gékhö. Please bestow the accomplishment of an easygoing, greatly broad mind! 

Not endowed with the compassionate state of the four elements, and with an imperfect nature in respect to the four times, I grasp the illusory body. I openly admit my wrongdoing to the state of the four mothers who are doorkeepers of the four times. Please bestow the accomplishment of overcoming phenomenal appearances!

From compassion, the four emanated sons display a spectacular form and perform wrathful activity. Enemies and obstructers are their servants who are entrusted to act. I openly admit my wrongdoing to the four youths who are emanations. Please bestow the accomplishment of attaining generosity and the two accomplishments! 

Not connected with the skillfulness of the primordial nature where there is no duality of true or untrue words, whatever is in contradiction to the enlightened mind of Kuji Mangké, I openly admit to the state that is equal with the natural mind. Please bestow the accomplishment of attaining the fulfillment of compassionate activities!” 

From The Irreversible Golden Razor, Scripture for the Accomplishment of the Secret, Greatly Fierce Demon Subduer, Walchen Gékhö

All translations from the Tibetan by Raven Cypress Wood ©All Rights Reserved

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.”

Want to join the mandala of Nine Ways supporters? Follow this link https://ravencypresswood.com/donate/ It’s easy through Paypal and Zelle.

Walchen Gekhö and consort statue. Photo credit: Raven Cypress Wood

Posted on | Image

Annual Retreat of the Peaceful & Wrathful Walsé Ngampa

The Yidam Walsé Ngampa and the Great Mother Ngammo Yumchen Tröpe Taktenma

Each year on the 23rd-29th lunar days of the 2nd lunar month, Menri Monastery performs a week-long retreat of the yidam Walsé Ngampa. In 2023, these dates correspond to April 13th-19th on the Western calendar. The retreat includes recitation of the complete yidam text along with accumulation of the mantra, one hundred feast offerings to the yidam and his retinue, as well as a ritual of protection to turn away malevolent forces as well as the causes for illness, accidents, conflicts, and other types of harm and danger.

The yidam Walsé Ngampa is one of the Five Supreme Embodiments, or literally the Five Supreme Citadels of the Father Tantra that are manifestations of the enlightened body, speech, mind, quality, and activity of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché. Walsé Ngampa is the embodiment of Enlightened Body. He is dark blue with nine heads and eighteen arms with which he holds various weapons for subduing obstacles. He is the manifested form of the wisdom of emptiness. His consort has the nature of Buddha Satrik Érsang and is known as Ngammo Yumchen Tröpé Taktenma with a body color that is dark green with blue hair and eyebrows. In her right hand, she holds an amulet containing the earth and sky. In her left hand, she holds a vase of nectar. And she wears a necklace of the planets and stars.

The main ritual text for this deity is entitled, Stages of Practice for Walsé which was composed by the great sage Drenpa Namkha and rediscovered as a terma by Matön Drol Dzin in 1091 from a rock in Dangra Khyung-dzong. Reciting this text and performing the associated rituals has a profound benefit of blessing and protection. Menri Monastery will be performing this sacred activity or the benefit and welfare of all beings in support of their happiness and development of wisdom.

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.”

Want to join the mandala of Nine Ways supporters? Follow this link https://ravencypresswood.com/donate/ It’s easy through Paypal and Zelle.

Posted on | Image

The Twelve Animals of Tibetan Astrology: 2020 Year of the Metal Rat

According to Tibetan astrology, there is a repeating twelve-year cycle.  Each year is characterized by a different animal and associated with one of the five elements.  Therefore, a full cycle of the twelve animals being associated with each of the five elements is sixty years.  The twelve animals according to the Yungdrung Bön texts are the Rat, Elephant, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Horse, Snake, Sheep, Garuda, Monkey, Dog and Pig.  Each animal is associated with a specific element for its life-force as well as a specific direction which is determined by the life-force element.  Not only are these twelve animals associated with specific years, they are also associated with specific months, days and hours that attributed the characteristics of that particular animal.

Monday February 24, 2020 is the Tibetan New Year and begins the year of the Metal Rat.  Therefore, people born during this year would be a Metal Rat and would have an emphasis of the specific qualities associated with the Rat.  (It is important to remember that this year corresponds with the Tibetan lunar calendar which begins somewhere between February and mid-March each year.) In both the Tibetan and Chinese languages, the words for ‘rat’ and ‘mouse’ are the same. Similarly, the words for ‘iron’ and ‘metal’ are the same. So, it could also be referred to as the year of the iron mouse. However, because of the inference of meaning in the English language for these terms compared with the specific characteristic qualities they are meant to convey, it will be referred to as the year of the metal rat in this article.

People born during a Rat year will have an emphasis of the specific qualities associated with the symbol of the Rat.  According to Tibetan astrology, the element which governs the life-force of the Rat is Water and its positive direction is North.  So, if a Rat person wanted to strengthen their life-force, they would focus upon strengthening the element of Water internally and externally.  Because the positive direction is North, facing this direction while meditating, engaging in healing practices or just relaxing and taking deep breaths is beneficial.

In general, the Rat symbolizes prosperity because of their propensity to accumulate wealth and enjoy success. They can be generous with their wealth but they can also become overly attached to their luxury which can manifest as selfishness. The Rat is adaptable and flexible and can use most circumstances to their advantage. Because of this, they are successful with many of their objectives.

The Rat is colorful, charismatic and enjoys being around others. They can be generous and engaging, although these interactions can be motivated by a need to reinforce the ego and pride. Once they trust someone, they are sentimental and generous within the relationship and can be a trusted intimate. They appear smart and relaxed. However, when a Rat feels frustrated or betrayed it is important for them to rely upon their calm due to the possible reflex of aggression and revenge.

The Rat‘s soul day is Wednesday and its life-force day is Tuesday.  These are the best days for beginning new projects and activities that are meant to increase or develop something.  The obstacle day is Saturday.  This day is best for purification and letting things go.  It is not a favorable day for beginning new activities or risky activities.

Rat years include: 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, and 2020

If you were born during a previous year of the Rat, this year as well as other Rat years are considered a time of vulnerability to obstacles. This same astrological principal applies for all of the other eleven animal signs during their associated year. Therefore, it is recommended to engage in practices that support vitality, good fortune and spiritual merit such as hanging prayer flags, having a soul and life-force retrieval ritual performed, restoring any deterioration or violation of one’s spiritual commitments or any damaged relationship with one’s spiritual brothers and sisters, and/or performing prayers and rituals to remove obstacles. In general, making an effort to engage more with virtuous activities of body, speech and mind and committing to engage less with non-virtuous activities is supportive. According to the words of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché, the practice of developing sincere unbiased and unlimited compassion is the greatest of all protections.

A common prayer within the Yungdrung Bön tradition that is used to remove obstacles is the Bar Che Lam Sel, The Spontaneous Wish-fulfillment of Removing Obstacles from the Path. The English, Spanish and Portuguese translations of this prayer are offered free for personal use on the Nine Ways Publications page. Click on the Publications tab above and scroll down to the download links for the prayer.

All translations and content by 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.”

Posted on | Image

The Fifth Way: In the Service of Virtue

Central Figure of the Tibetan Thangkha Painting Related to The Fifth Way

Within the Nine Ways of Bön, the Fifth Way is called The Way of the Virtuous Lay Practitioners and specifies the proper conduct and commitments of a lay person taking vows. This Fifth Way is the first of the Nine Ways classified as ‘Ways of the Result’ or ‘Bön of the Fruit.’ In the Tibetan language, a lay practitioner is called ‘gen nyen’ [Tib. dge bsnyen] which literally translates as ‘one who serves virtue’ or ‘one who draws near to virtue.’ When asked the meaning of these concepts, the enlightened all-knowing teacher, Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwo answered,

“Virtuous means without negative actions. This is one who is committed to serve virtue through their body, speech and mind. Service means serving without holding contradictory views and properly remaining steadfast in service to virtue.”

In general, the lay practitioner commits to practicing the ten virtuous actions and renounces the ten non-virtuous actions of body, speech and mind.  Buddha Tönpa Shenrap defines this kind of renunciation as 1) not performing the actions, 2) not requesting or encouraging others to perform them and 3) not feeling pleased that others have performed the negative actions. Similarly, one commits to 1) acting according to the ten virtuous actions, 2) encouraging others to participate in these activities and 3) feeling joy that others have performed virtuous actions. This is the inner practice.

The Three Virtuous Actions of the Body:

  1. Rather than killing, protecting the life of other beings.
  2. Rather than stealing, practicing generosity.
  3. Rather than engaging in sexual misconduct or causing others to break their vows, keeping one’s own vows and respecting the vows of others.

The Four Virtuous Actions of Speech:

  1. Rather than lying, speaking the truth.
  2. Rather than creating discord, speaking in a way that brings people together.
  3. Rather than using hurtful speech, speaking gently and kindly.
  4. Rather than gossiping or mindlessly talking, speaking in a useful way or reciting prayers.

The Three Virtuous Actions of the Mind:

  1. Rather than coveting the possessions and accomplishments of others, being generous and open.
  2. Rather than wishing harm to others or feeling resentful, cultivating the desire to help others.
  3. Rather than holding wrong views, practicing the teachings of Yungdrung Bön and establishing a true and authentic view.

When asked to teach the outward form of the lay practitioner, The All-knowing Teacher, Tönpa Shenrap first instructed the gathered assembly to construct the first Elegant Yungdrung Chorten [Sanskrit: stupa] according to his detailed instructions. Once completed, he consecrated the chorten and then began teaching the outer forms and behavior of a gen nyen or lay practitioner.

Elegant Yungdrung Bon Chorten edit

The Elegant Yungdrung Chorten which represents the stages of enlightenment

The practitioner must go before a pure lama who guides disciples and take the appropriate vows. According to a commentary written by the 23rd abbot of Menri Monastery, His Holiness Nyima Tenzin Rinpoché:

“As for the vows of a gen nyen: There are five kinds of lifetime vows.  To abandon killing, to abandon taking what is not given, to abandon impure, wrong kinds of sexual conduct, and to abandon false speech are four.  Abandoning one of the four kinds of food is the fifth.  Some people have taught abandoning alcohol as a branch vow.

This is the gen nyen of completely renouncing according to the five kinds of established laws.  Because of that, the gen nyen of pure behavior has renounced the basic kinds of impure activity.”

As for killing, one must abandon killing in anger especially another human being. One must abandon stealing, especially when it is driven by desire. One must avoid sexual contact that is damaging or abusive, one must avoid harmful speech especially if it creates a division within the spiritual community, and one must avoid lying especially about one’s spiritual experiences and attainments. As for the fifth which is a branch vow, one renounces either one of the four kinds of food. In this context, the four kinds of food are 1) meat, 2) garlic, 3) solid food after the mid-day meal, and 4) intoxicants such as drugs and alcohol. Regarding drugs and alcohol, the deeper meaning is the renunciation of intoxication which is an obstacle to mindfulness and incites negative behavior.

According to Buddha Tönpa Shenrap in The Nine Ways of Bön,

“As for the lifelong inner rules, one must abandon killing due to the influence of anger, abandon taking what is not given due to the influence of desire or attachment, abandon acting secretly to get what one wants without consideration of cause and effect due to the influence of ignorance, abandon performing unclean work due to the influence of pride, and abandon rough and abusive speech, meaningless talk, and telling lies. One must apply one’s self to their opposites.”

The Buddha goes on to describe the outer practices.

“As for the five intermediate principles, one should perform pure water-cleansing rites, perform prostrations and circumambulations with devotion and aspiration, create and place tsa tsa, and offer torma. Presenting offerings is a branch of gathering the [two] accumulations.”

All translations and content by 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.”

Posted on | Image

← Older Posts
Newer Posts →