July 6th is celebrated as the birthday of the one born as Lhamo Döndrup, recognized at the age of two and formally installed at the age of fifteen, as the leader of the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism and therefore both the spiritual and secular leader of Tibet. Upon his enthronement, he was renamed Jetsun Jampel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso: Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate Defender of the Faith who is an Ocean of Wisdom. He is known as Yizhin Norbu Rinpoche, the Precious Wish-fulfilling Jewel, and referred to as Gyalwa Rinpoche, Most Precious Conqueror, by Tibetans. He is known around the world as His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
The title Dalai Lama was first given in 1578 C.E. to Sonam Gyatso, leader of the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism, by the Mongolian leader Altan Kahn who had just received teachings from him. The term Dalai Lama is a combination of the Mongolian word dalai meaning ocean, and the Tibetan word lama commonly meaning spiritual master and literally translated as mother of the soul, or highest mother. Sonam Gyatso became known as the 3rd Dalai Lama because the two previous leaders of the Geluk school were posthumously awarded the title. Beginning with the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century, the authority and influence of the Dalai Lamas expanded beyond sectarian boundaries into all schools of Tibetan Buddhism as well as becoming enjoined with the secular function of governing the country of Tibet.
Upon the occasion of his 90th birthday, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has issued a public statement regarding the continuation of the Dalai Lama lineage.
Statement Affirming the Continuation of the Institution of Dalai Lama
(Translated from the original Tibetan)
On 24 September 2011, at a meeting of the heads of Tibetan spiritual traditions, I made a statement to fellow Tibetans in and outside Tibet, followers of Tibetan Buddhism, and those who have a connection with Tibet and Tibetans, regarding whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue. I stated, “As far back as 1969, I made clear that concerned people should decide whether the Dalai Lama’s reincarnations should continue in the future.”
I also said, “When I am about ninety I will consult the high Lamas of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, the Tibetan public, and other concerned people who follow Tibetan Buddhism, to re-evaluate whether or not the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue.”
Although I have had no public discussions on this issue, over the last 14 years leaders of Tibet’s spiritual traditions, members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, participants in a Special General Body Meeting, members of the Central Tibetan Administration, NGOs, Buddhists from the Himalayan region, Mongolia, Buddhist republics of the Russian Federation and Buddhists in Asia including mainland China, have written to me with reasons, earnestly requesting that the institution of the Dalai Lama continue. In particular, I have received messages through various channels from Tibetans in Tibet making the same appeal. In accordance with all these requests, I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue.
The process by which a future Dalai Lama is to be recognized has been clearly established in the 24 September 2011 statement which states that responsibility for doing so will rest exclusively with members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They should consult the various heads of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the reliable oath-bound Dharma Protectors who are linked inseparably to the lineage of the Dalai Lamas. They should accordingly carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition.
I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter.
Dalai Lama
Dharamshala
21 May 2025
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama with His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.
Around the world on this day, devotees will begin the day with a large fumigation and smoke offering, and then present offerings and prayers to an image of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Especially on this day, there will be many prayers for his long and healthy life.
Prayer for the Long Life of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Gang ri ra wé kor wé zhing kham su In a heavenly realm, surrounded by a chain of snow mountains,
Pen dang dé wa ma lü jung wé né The source of all happiness and help for beings
Chenrezik wang Tenzin Gyatso yi Is Tenzin Gyatso, Chenrezik in person.
Shyap pé kal gyé bar du ten gyur chik May his life be secure for hundreds of eons!
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The 13th lunar day of the 4th lunar month is the anniversary of the parinirvana and the attainment of the rainbow body of Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen Rinpoche. In 2025, this date coincides with June 9th. Shardza Rinpoche was a Yungdrung Bön monk, teacher, scholar, and realized practitioner of the modern age. Born in 1859 in Kham, Tibet, at the age of nine an esteemed lama told his parents that he should become a monk. Being their only son, the parents refused. Shardza soon became quite ill. Seeing that their son was not recovering, the parents agreed to allow him to take ordination. At this, Shardza quickly recovered. He was the attendant for his root lama, Tenzin Wangyal, for many years. At the age of eighteen, he took the full vows of a Yungdrung Bön monk from the abbot of Yungdrung Ling Monastery.
Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen Rinpoche depicted as a yogi with long hair and a white robe
Throughout his life, Shardza Rinpoche was known for a disciplined adherence to every vow that he had taken throughout his life. Although his view and practice were vast and high, he maintained diligence in performing virtue and avoiding the smallest non-virtue. He continually performed the preliminary practices and recited many millions of mantra, especially the SA LÉ Ö mantra. He composed many concise practices for purifying negativity and accumulating merit and wisdom, such as his Aspiration Prayer of Giving and Receiving. (For the publicly available English translation, go to the Publications page of this website. For a brief explanation of the prayer, see previous article: https://ravencypresswood.com/2020/01/31/an-aspiration-prayer-of-giving-and-receiving-gift-translation/ )
“For those with a great deal of negative actions in this lifetime, having requested a remedy because they will certainly ripen during future lifetimes, the remedy of performing virtue is very powerful. Having ripened negative actions, the mere exhaustion of that karma (through pain and/or illness), enlightenment is certain. Therefore, this pain and illness of yours is very amazing when it is voluntarily accepted!
Even now, whenever more pain or illness arises, continuing to persevere with your religious practices, venerations, and acts of pure virtue would be incredibly amazing!
When you imagine that there will be no unhappiness in the future (due to this negative karma being exhausted), supremely praise the emptiness of that particular pain or illness.
Be inspired by the power of this antidote, even when what you don’t want arises.
Take the suffering and misery of others onto yourself by adopting others’ happiness and suffering through the practice of giving and receiving.”
Shardza Rinpoche’s advice to the female practitioner Khandro Wangi Dronma.
Hair and nails of Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen Rinpoche that were recovered after his attainment of the rainbow body
He taught a multitude of disciples, organized the reconstruction of temples, went on pilgrimages, and spent a great deal of time in isolated retreat. A prolific writer, he wrote at length on subjects such as Bön history, instructions for the practice of Tibetan yoga, preliminary practices for Dzogchen, condensed summaries of each of the None Ways of Bön, and detailed instructions for the advanced practice of inner heat, known as Tummo. When Shardza Rinpoche was 75 years old, his disciples noticed that his behavior changed. He seemed more casual and became delighted when playing with children. He was seen doing miraculous things such as walking without his feet touching the ground or setting his bowl down in space.
In 1934 at the age of 76 during an offering ceremony, he began to spontaneously sing songs of realization. A few days later, he sewed himself inside a tent and forbid any of his disciples to open it. The next day, rainbow lights began appearing above and around the tent. After three days, the ground shook. By the 4th day, rainbow-colored mist was seen coming through the seams of the tent. On that 4th day, Shardza’s disciple Tsultrim Wangchuk, afraid that his lama’s body would completely disappear and leave nothing as an object of veneration and inspiration, opened the tent. He found Shardza’s body enveloped in rainbow light, levitating in midair, and shrunken to the proportional size of a one year old child. The area around his heart was still warm but most of the nails of the hands and feet had fallen onto the seat below. For the next forty-nine days, a multitude of disciples came to pay their respect and receive blessings. After that, the precious remains were placed into a reliquary chorten. From time to time, many people have reported seeing clear or rainbow-colored light emanating from this reliquary chorten.
Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen’s reliquary chorten at his retreat center in Amdo, Tibet
On February 6, 2025 in Kathmandu, Nepal within the new meditation temple at Palden Triten Norbutsé Monastery, the Yungdrung Bön community will gather and rejoice in the 100th birthday of His Eminence Yongdzin Lopön Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche. Once His Eminence has entered the mediation hall and taken his seat upon the grand throne, many mandala offerings of glorious things will be offered and prayers for his long life will be chanted.
“Supplication to the Lord of Refuge, Menri Yongdzin Lopön Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche
How marvelous! Teacher of the three trainings and protector of migrating beings, you are an emanation of the omniscient Nyi Wang who perfects enlightened intention with dynamic energy. Having the total perfection of the abiding nature of sutra and trantra, you hold and protect the teachings through your completely pure enlightened activities. To Yongdzin Mawé Wangpo I supplicate!
é ma ho, lap sum ten pé dak nyi dro wé gön, kün khyen nyi wang nam röl gong tsal dzok, do dé ngak kyi né luk dzok pa ché, ten pa dzin kyong trin lé nam par dak, yong dzin ma wé wang por söl wa dep”
Written by the supreme Lord of Refuge, the 33rd Menri Trizen Rinpoche on the 8th lunar day of the 3rd lunar month.
A Bön Song for Welcoming One Hundred Years
You are a Shen whose speech is the great essence of the hundred thousand treasuries of sutra and tantra. Great protector of the teachings of the 84,000 Doors of Bön, during this present time you have greater kindness than a thousand enlightened ones. We rejoice that you have reached the age of one hundred!
The expressions of your realization and your hundreds of acts are solid pillars of the three trainings. Your utterly fulfilling knowledge of the three aspects turns the thousand-spoked wheel of Bön. Unequaled holder of the golden throne, because of a multitude of requests, You subsequently composed thirteen volumes of your collected works.
Embodiment of Drenpa, Master Subduer during the 500 years of decline, you have held, protected, and increased the essence of the Bön teachings during the one hundred years of your long life. Having the completely pure three vows of the hundred-petaled, saffron robe, may your lotus feet remain stable for hundreds of eons!
(Thus, this great celebration marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the principal teacher of the Leader of Menri, the divine Lord of Refuge, Lopön Mawé Wangpo Tenzin Nadak, the supremely glorious master. As the fortunate Bön community of former students of The Bön Children’s Welfare Center of Topgyal Sarpa at Pal Shenten Menri Ling and others who are continually protected by your wisdom and kindness, offer these auspicious wishes. Mutsuk Marro!)
Newly finished statue of His Eminence Menri Yongdzin Lopön Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche
Offerings to the Lama
How Marvelous!
Within a completely pure and unchanging miraculous realm is the spiritual master, the essence of the Enlightened Ones of the three times. In order for the migrating beings of the six destinies to cross the ocean of cyclic existence, please remain seated upon the jeweled throne, upon faultless cushions of a radiant lotus, sun, and moon within the unsurpassed palace of the immeasurable three places! AH OM HUNG CHI PAR RAYNA TA TSEN RA YO DZA
Prostrations
How marvelous! To the lama who is the embodiment of all of the Victors and spiritual masters, principally by Bön practitioners, but including all sentient beings who are as limitless as the sky; we offer prostrations with our body, prostrating with our arms, legs, and head! We prostrate with our speech, chanting with a joyous and inspired melody! We prostrate with our mind, prostrating with single-pointed motivation and devotion! May the negative actions and defilements of our three doors become purified! AH OM HUNG CHI PAR RAYNA KO PUNG AKSHO TRI TSE GU DÜN HRUN
Admission of Wrongdoing and Purification
In the presence of my principal lama who is chief among the supreme objects of refuge, I admit my actions of wrongdoing and non-virtue that I have committed from the beginning until this very day. I admit corrupting the three vows and defiling the promises that I’ve made. I admit my pretension even though I do not understand the nature of mind. Please bestow complete purification and the supreme attainment! AH OM HUNG CHI PAR RAYNA KO PUNG AKSHO TRI TSE U DUK SHA YA NI SOHA
Mandala Offering
How marvelous! To the great, unmatched lama possessing characteristics, I present unequaled external, internal, and secret offerings. Externally, I offer a variety of nice things of the environment and its inhabitants. Furthermore, I offer my own body and its vitality as an ornament. I present these offerings with non-attachment.
Internally, I offer the arising of my mental and physical aggregates. I offer my accumulated realization that whatever arises as subject and object is illusory. Furthermore, I present these offerings within the vast space of self-liberation.
Secretly, I offer the natural radiance of my unborn mind, which is unceasing and understands whatever arises as enlightened manifestation and wisdom. Furthermore, I present these offerings within a completely vast and all-pervasive space. AH OM HUNG CHI PAR RAYNA ZUR NAM DÉ SHO HA RA TIM TIM YÉ SOHA
The Five Offerings
How Marvelous! Free from extremes and unchanging is the container of the mind. Free from elaborations, I establish the wick of great self-liberation. I fill the lamp of authentic, completely pervasive great bliss. To the One who has characteristics, I present this butter lamp to look upon with the eye.
This unmoving and naturally clear incense burner is filled with the non-grasping, radiantly clear light of pure incense. The fresh and continuous smoke permeates everywhere. I present this incense to the Protector of beings.
This unfabricated and self-clear water offering bowl is filled with unobstructed, playful self-arising offering water. Having added various ornaments of non-attachment such as nectar and medicine, I present this offering water for the enjoyment of the Dimension of great kindness.
The primordial Buddha of the conch shell of the mind is filled with manifested experience and realization like an utpal flower. Radiating the wonderful light of spontaneously benefitting others, I present this flower of enlightened activity to the Heart of great kindness. AH OM HUNG NÉ TING SHIM PÖ DANG RA BONG NGÉ NÉ RA ZUR NAM DÉ SHO HA RA TIM TIM SOHA
Praise of the Enlightened State
How marvelous! At the crown of my head, the changeless palace of great bliss, abides the state of Künzang, completely equipoised and free from extremes. I pray to the dimension of the Bön lamas, please hold the migrating beings of the six realms in your compassion and loosen the mind-stream!
At the neck, the space of the palace of Ogmin, are the peaceful and wrathful deities who have the major and minor characteristics. I pray to the dimension of lamas of the Dzok ku, please hold the migrating beings of the six destinies in your compassion and loosen our mind-stream!
At the center of the heart, is the realm of the manifested subduer of migrating beings, the One who teaches whatever is needed and performs a variety of enlightened activity. I pray to the dimension of manifested Lamas, please hold the migrating beings of the six destinies in your compassion and loosen our mind-stream!
To the collective of all the victorious Lamas who has the endowments of leisure and fortune, who teaches the entire collection of scripture with completely pure speech, who has the extensive wisdom of knowledge and kindness, and a mind free from elaboration, who protects migrating beings like their own children with their exalted qualities that come forth, who has spontaneous enlightened activity as limitless as the sky; I pray to the unrivalled Lama, please hold the migrating beings of the six destinies in your compassion and loosen our mind-stream!
I pray to the One who is unrivaled and who has perfected the Three Bodies, please hold the migrating beings of the six destinies in your compassion and loosen our mind-stream! I pray to the One whose speech is the ornament of the world, please hold the migrating beings of the six destinies in your compassion and loosen our mind-stream! I pray to the One who blazes like the incomparable udum flower, please hold the migrating beings of the six destinies in your compassion and loosen our mind-stream! I pray to the One who is free of defilements and has the two kinds of knowledge, please hold the migrating beings of the six destinies in your compassion and loosen our mind-stream!
Receiving the Accomplishments
You, my Lama, who has brought cyclic existence and nirvana under your power, I, and your other followers, pray; please bestow benefits that are as limitless as the sky to migrating beings! Please grant our wishes to be continuously without separation from your presence! Continuously hold us with your unequalled compassion, we pray!
Aspiration Prayer
Until I obtain complete enlightenment, not born in a negative place, may I obtain a body of renunciation with the advantages of the leisures and fortunes. Having practiced the three trainings and loosened the mind stream, and having traveled the paths and the grounds, from the state of complete buddhahood, may I accomplish benefit that is equal to the vastness of the sky!
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November 11, 2024 is the birth anniversary of the leader of the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition, the Lord of Refuge and 34th Holder of the Golden Throne of Menri Monastery, the supreme Lungtok Dawa Dargyal Rinpoche. He was born in the Domé region of Tibet and was given the birth name of Norbu Sampel. His family were members of the Pel Shenten Gamel Yungdrung Dargyal Ling community. At the age of five he began school and at the age of eight he began to learn the foundational teachings of Yungdrung Bön. At the age of eleven he entered Gamel Monastery and received the name Zöpa Tsöndrü and received genyen vows. Upon reaching the age of seventeen, he received novice monk vows and was given the name Tsultrim Nyima. One year later, he entered the Gamel Dialectic College.
In 1994, the 33rd throne holder of Menri Monastery, the lord of refuge Lungtok Tenpé Nyima Rinpoche returned to Tibet for the first time since his exile. During his visit to Gamel, he bestowed the complete 250 renunciate vows upon the future 34th throne holder and received from him the name, Dawa Dargyal Wangpo.
Although he had completed his geshe degree in 1996, he traveled to India the following year and began his studies in the Menri dialectic college. In 2012 at the age of 39, he received his Menri Geshe degree in the presence of H.H. 33rd Menri Trizin Rinpoche. He fulfilled many roles within Menri Monastery after his graduation such as serving as treasurer and general secretary. On September 14, 2017 the 33rd Menri Trizin Rinpoche showed the truth of impermanence and passed beyond his physical body. Acting as the general secretary, it was the responsibility of Geshe Dawa Dargyal to organize the memorial and cremation rituals.
Following many days of traditional prayers and rituals, on the morning of January 1, 2018 Geshe Dawa Dargyal was selected as the 34th Menri throne holder. His enthronement ceremony took place on February 20, 2018, the 5th lunar day of the first Tibetan which coincided with the birth anniversary of the second buddha and the one who established Menri Monastery, Nyammé Sherab Gyaltsen.
ཁྲི་འཛིན་སོ་བཞི་པ་ཆེན་པོའི་གསོལ་འདེབས།
Supplication of the Great 34th Throne-holder
ཨེ་མ་ཧོ།
How wonderful!
གྱེར་བསྟན་རིན་ཆེན་མཚན་ཡང་ལྡོག་པའི་ཞིང་།།
In a land isolated from even the name of the precious Bön teachings, ལུང་རྟོགས་པད་མའི་དགའ་ཚལ་བཞད་པའི་མགོན།།
The oral transmissions and realizations blossomed in the master’s pleasure garden of lotuses. འཕྲིན་ལས་རྟ་བདུན་སྣང་བ་གཤེགས་པའི་རྗེས།།
Following the enlightened activities of the departed Sun who had appeared, ཆ་རྫོགས་ཟླ་བའི་མགོན་ལ་གསོལ་བ་འདེབས།།
I supplicate to the master who is a completely full Moon in every way!
མཆོག་གསུམ་ཡེ་ཤེས་སྒྲིབ་བྲལ་སྤྱན་ལྡན་གྱིས།།
By having the eye of immaculate wisdom of the three jewels, རྒྱལ་བའི་འཕྲིན་ལས་སྐྱོང་བའི་མགོན་བསྐོས་པ།།
You were appointed the Lord who protects the enlightened activities of the buddhas. གང་འདིའི་གསང་གསུམ་བཞེད་དོན་ལྷུན་གྲུབ་པའི།།
Spontaneously accomplishing any wish of the three secret places, ཐུགས་མཆོག་གཡེལ་མེད་དམ་པར་མཛད་དུ་གསོལ།།
I supplicate to the excellent, undistracted supreme mind!
Supplication prayer written by H.E. Yondzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche, translated from the Tibetan by Raven Cypress Wood
Raven Cypress Wood with the supreme 34th Menri Throne holder
All Translations from Tibetan by Raven Cypress Wood
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Künsal Jamma Chenmo, the All-Clarifying Great Loving Mother, also known as Sherap Jamma
Enlightened beings have no purpose in manifesting from the space of abiding other than to benefit sentient beings. Spontaneously manifesting, they can appear in any way that is helpful. Although Buddha Künsal Sherap Jamma has innumerable manifestations, her five primary wisdom manifestations with individual characteristics and essence mantras are an embodiment of one of the five enlightened bodies as well as the five wisdoms, and are the source of one of the five main volumes of scripture for the teachings related to Künsal Sherap Jamma, The All-clarifying, Wise Loving Mother.
“She is the source of the essence of wisdom, as well as the source of the natural mind of all the enlightened ones. She is the empty aspect of space in which everything is arising, everything is abiding, and everything is dissolving. She is the essence of absolute reality. In order to lovingly care for all sentient beings like a mother cares for her only child, she engages in supreme activity by teaching in the manner of a goddess. She is the great mother who has given birth to all the buddhas of the three enlightened bodies.”
Excerpt from A Ladder to Liberation, An Abridged Commentary Regarding the Words and Meaning of the Praise of the Mantra of Jamma, the Deity Who Protects From All Things
According to the tantric practice of Jamma, these five wisdom manifestations are related to as meditational deities, or yidams. The disciple takes refuge in Jamma, makes offerings and supplications to Jamma, receives purification of wrongdoing from Jamma, and practices with the pure view of the phenomenal universe as Jamma’s mandala and all beings as divine beings in her retinue. Practicing with Jamma in this way, the visualized self as Jamma and the actual wisdom deity merge. This unification arises as an action deity that is inseparable from the enlightened deity. From this state, the essence mantra is recited many hundreds, thousands, or millions of times. During a restricted personal retreat of seven to twenty-one days, the mantra is recited a minimum of 100,000 times without being interrupted by ordinary speech, eating, drinking, sleeping, and so on.
Künsal Jamma Chenmo surrounded by her five wisdom and eight protector manifestations
“The essence of the five enlightened states is Jamma. All the enlightened ones of the three times come from Jamma. Because of the swift ripening and liberation, and the attainment of all the common and supreme accomplishments that arise from this Mother of the Victors, fortunate sentient beings of future generations should focus on her essence. It will be like finding gold inside a stone. If you practice with great diligence without giving it up or diminishing the practice, you will attain the common and extraordinary results in one lifetime. Every accomplishment will be attained.”
Advice of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché when completing his teaching of Jamma’s Root Tantra.
As with any tantric practice within the Yungdrung Bön tradition, a practitioner of the Jamma tantra should receive the oral transmission, teaching, and empowerment in order to establish a connection with the lineage and the deities, and to receive their blessings. Receiving the oral transmission gives permission to read, study, and practice the Jamma texts. From that, one can practice the Jamma texts without having received the empowerment, but it will be difficult to fully accomplish the results of the tantric practice.
During the Jamma empowerment, disciples take part in a divination in order to determine their karmic connection with one of the five wisdom manifestations of Künsal Sherap Jamma. Revealing this connection allows the disciple to focus their attention on the continuation of their Jamma practice from previous lifetimes. The disciples cover their eyes with a cloth to symbolically represent the darkness of their mind before being introduced to the enlightened deities. Those assisting with the empowerment go to each of the disciples holding a representation of Jamma’s mandala. Then, the disciple holds either a small flower or their mala above the mandala and lets it fall. Because each of the five wisdom manifestations are associated with a specific direction within the mandala, the place where the flower or mala falls determines which of the five yidam deities are karmically connected with the disciple. For example, if it falls in the East section of the mandala, this reveals that the disciple has a karmic connection from previous lifetimes with the practice of Tapgyi Jamma, the wisdom manifestation associated with the East. When their karmic yidam has been determined, the disciples remove their blindfold which represents the opening of their wisdom eye which has the ability to perceive the divine face of Jamma. Practicing with their karmic yidams and reciting their essence mantra is greatly beneficial and will bring unimaginable blessings and protection.
Depiction of the mandala palace of Sherap Jamma
Details of the Five Wisdom Manifestations of Sherap Jamma
Each of the five wisdom manifestations appear in dzok ku form, a state endowed with all perfected qualities and appear as wisdom light with no solid existence, like the bright moon reflected in water. In their appearance, they are all seated peacefully on a throne and wear the thirteen ornaments of a dzok ku: a crown, earrings, a short necklace, two longer necklaces, armlets, bracelets, anklets, a head silk, a long scarf, an upper garment, a lower garment, and a belt.
Within the commentary written by the 23rd Menri Trizen Nyima Tenzin Rinpoche entitled A Ladder to Liberation, An Abridged Commentary Regarding the Words and Meaning of the Praise of the Mantra of Jamma, the Deity Who Protects From All Things is a description of Sherap Jamma and the benefits of practicing each of the five manifestations.
Künsal Jamma Chenmo, the All-Clarifying Great Loving Mother, is also known as Sherap Jamma. From the scripture for the empowerment:
If it falls in the center, it is designated as Künsal Jamma Chenmo, the All-Clarifying Great Loving Mother, the One with the dynamic energy of being without delusion. “Oh fortunate child of the lineage, your yidam deity is the great mother called Künsal Jamma. She has the color of molten gold. On her head is a turquoise crown, and she has turquoise earrings. In her right hand she holds a golden vase filled with the essence of nectar. Her left hand is in a dancing pose and, at the top of an uḍumbara flower, she holds a mirror that symbolizes primordial awareness. Her necklaces are the colors of the moon and crystal and are an encircled forty drops of great wisdom. Her bracelets contain precious jewels. She has bright, divine clothes with a large, flowing, silk skirt that gently moves with the wind. She is peaceful with a radiantly smiling face that expresses her loving kindness. She sits peacefully with her legs are crossed. Because she was your yidam deity in the past, she is your yidam deity now. Because she is your yidam deity now, don’t forget to meditate on her as your yidam deity. Because she will be your yidam deity in the future, she will compassionately protect you. Therefore, continually proclaim her essence mantra.”
Künsal Jamma Chenmo is the central manifestation from which the other manifestations emanate. Therefore, by focusing on her and reciting her mantra, the practice is connected with all of the countless manifestations of Jamma.
Direction of the Mandala: Center, The Suchness Buddha Family, Seated on a Lion Throne
Appearance: She has a color like blazing gold.
Hand Objects: She has two hands. R: a Golden Vase of Nectar, L: a Udumbara Flower that supports a Mirror of Wisdom Awareness.
Five Wisdoms-Five Poisons: She embodies the Wisdom of Emptiness and Victory over Confusion and Dull-mindedness.
Five Scriptures: She is the source of the Kham Gyé, The Unsurpassed Scripture regarding the Eight Realms.
Organ: Heart
Seed Syllable and Mantra: She arises from the seed syllable OM, which is also the source of all five wisdom manifestations. Her mantra is the essence mantra for all manifestations and also specifically associated with her. OM MA WA MA DÉ MA HI MO HA E MA HO MA YÉ RU PA YÉ TA DU DU SOHA*
Brief Description of the benefits of practicing Künsal Jamma Chenmo: You will have the ability to befriend all of appearance and existence. Immeasurable impermanence will be born in the mind-stream. Having purified the ten wrongdoings, the ten virtues will increase. Self-awareness will arise within itself, and you will awaken in the expanse of the nature of space and abide in the state of equanimity and great bliss. You will have power over cyclic existence and nirvana.
Tapgyi Jamma, or Tapchen Jamma, the Loving Mother of Great Skillful Means. From the scripture for the empowerment:
“If it falls in the east, it is designated as Tapchen Jamma who has the dynamic energy of unchanging, blissful liberation. “Oh fortunate child of the lineage, your yidam deity is the great mother Tapchen Jamma who has one face and four arms. Her two right hands hold a net and a lotus, and her two left hands hold a lasso and a yungdrung mala. She is seated on a throne of great skillful means. Because she was your yidam deity in the past, she is your yidam deity now. Because she is your yidam deity now, don’t forget to meditate on her as your yidam deity. Because she will be your yidam deity in the future, she will compassionately protect you. Therefore, continually proclaim her essence mantra.”
Direction of the Mandala: East, The Yungdrung Buddha Family, Seated on a Dragon Throne
Appearance: White like Stainless Crystal
Hand Objects: She has four hands. R: a Lotus and a Net, L: a Yungdrung Mala and a Lightening Lasso of Skillful Means
Five Wisdoms-Five Poisons: She embodies Mirror-like Wisdom and Victory over Hatred and Anger.
Five Scriptures: She is the source of the Der Drol Lam Bum, The Hundred Thousand Verses on the Blissful Path of Liberation.
Organ: Spleen
Seed Syllable and Mantra: She arises from the seed syllable SA. Her specific essence mantra is: OM MA MA YÉ MU YA LI CHÖ CHÖ RAM DÉ MA RI RA MU YA KHAM SOHA**
Brief Description of the benefits of practicing Tapgyi Jamma: All pain, faults, contaminated energy, defilements and impurities will be purified. The physical body will be without illness and blissful. Fears will be overcome. You will be able to proclaim the melodies of Bön with a pleasant voice. You will have power over appearance and existence. All food and resources are accumulated. Having obtained a wealth of precious treasure, the wealth of merit is never diminished. All dull-mindedness is completely abandoned and you have the supreme clarity of wisdom. Having obtained the supreme purity free of faults, you will never experiences blindness, muteness, deafness, or loss of the mental faculties.
Mönlam Jamma, or Namkhé Dzö Dzinma-Holder of a Sky-Treasury, the Loving Mother of the Path of Aspiration. From the scripture for the empowerment:
If it falls in the North, it is designated as Mönlam Jamma, Loving Mother of the Path of Aspirations, also known as Namkhé Dzö Dzinma, Holder of a Sky-Treasury, who has the dynamic energy to cause wonderful things to arise. “Oh fortunate child of the lineage, your yidam deity is the great mother Namkhé Dzö Dzinma. She is green with one face and four hands. Her two right hands hold a wisdom knife and a staff of monastic discipline with two stacked chortens [Sanskrit: stupa] on top, and her two left hands hold a renunciate’s alms bowl and and a vase of purifying water. She sits on a horse throne and is all-knowing. Because she was your yidam deity in the past, she is your yidam deity now. Because she is your yidam deity now, don’t forget to meditate on her as your yidam deity. Because she will be your yidam deity in the future, she will compassionately protect you. Therefore, continually proclaim her essence mantra.”
Direction of the Mandala: North, The Wheel of Bön Buddha Family, Seated on a Horse Throne
Appearance: Reddish Green like the heart of a flame
Hand Objects: She has four hands. R: Wisdom Knife and a Staff of Monastic Discipline with Two Stacked Chortens on Top, L: a Renunciate’s Alms Bowl and a Vase of Purifying Water
Five Wisdoms-Five Poisons: She embodies the Wisdom of Equanimity and Victory over Jealousy.
Five Scriptures: She is the source of the Dül Bum, The Hundred Thousand Verses on Discipline.
Organ: Lungs
Seed Syllable and Mantra: She arises from the seed syllable HA. Her specific essence mantra is OM MA MA SANG SANG LAM LAM DRUM NA GA LI GHEN DHÉ CHÖ PHUR DU DU SO HA
Brief Description of the benefits of practicing Mönlam Jamma: All defilements and obscurations will be purified and all positive qualities will be produced in the mind-stream. You will be untainted with the defects of wrongdoing. You will be like a lotus risen from the mud. The body will accumulate glory and riches and the mind will be filled with elixir. You will teach others without attachments to your activities. Your mind will be at peace and will find happiness.
Tukjé Jamma, the Compassionate Loving Mother
Tukjé Jamma, Loving Mother of Compassion. From the scripture for the empowerment:
If it falls in the West, it is designated as Tükjé Jamma, the Loving Mother of Compassion who has the dynamic energy of unceasing compassion. “Oh fortunate child of the lineage, your yidam deity is the great mother Tükjé Jamma. She is red with one face and four arms. Her two right hands hold a lasso and a sun, and her two left hands hold a jewel and a victory banner. She sits on a throne of garudas. Because she was your yidam deity in the past, she is your yidam deity now. Because she is your yidam deity now, don’t forget to meditate on her as your yidam deity. Because she will be your yidam deity in the future, she will compassionately protect you. Therefore, continually proclaim her essence mantra.”
Direction of the Mandala: West, The Lotus Buddha Family, Seated on a Garuda Throne
Appearance: Red like Coral
Hand Objects: She has four hands. R: An Extended Lasso and a Sun of Compassion, L: Wish-fulfilling Jewel of Happiness and a Victory Banner
Five Wisdoms-Five Poisons: She embodies Discriminating Wisdom and Victory over desire and Attachment.
Five Scriptures: She is the source of the Dön Bum, The Hundred Thousand Verses on the Meaning.
Organ: Liver
Seed Syllable and Mantra: Depending upon the source text, she can arise from either the seed syllable RI or NI. Her specific essence mantra is: OM MA MA SA LÉ É PHU TÉ YANG NI DU RAM TÉ SOHA
Within the cycle of the MA TRI tantra, Tükjé Jamma is one of the primary buddhas along with Buddha Tönpa Shenrap and the six buddhas who tame and liberate the six kinds of beings migrating within cyclic existence.
Brief Description of the benefits of practicing Tukjé Jamma: Poverty of oneself and others is removed, and you will attain great resources and treasures. You will have stainless ethics and moral discipline, and all faults will fall way. Unsuitable things as well as suffering and misery will naturally be pacified. Every good quality will be amassed. You will accomplish your wishes for the roots of virtue and you will dwell on the ground of bliss and virtue. You will never be harmed when challenged by others of great power. Your complexion will be bright and radiant. Your knowledge to explain what is learned increases. Immeasurable compassion will be born in your mind-stream and you will have the ability to help other sentient beings. Whatever you want to do will be accomplished through mindfulness.
Topgyi Jamma, the Powerful Loving Mother, or Nangsi Kündrakma, Mother who is Renowned Throughout All Phenomenal Existence. From the scripture for the empowerment:
If it falls in the South, it is designated as Nangsi Kundrakma who has the dynamic energy of spontaneous accomplishment. “Oh fortunate child of the lineage, your yidam deity is the great mother Nangsi Kundrakma. She is blue, with one face and four arms. Her two right hands hold a hook and a banner, and her two left hands hold an astrological chart and as utpal flower. She is seated on a powerful elephant throne. Because she was your yidam deity in the past, she is your yidam deity now. Because she is your yidam deity now, don’t forget to meditate on her as your yidam deity. Because she will be your yidam deity in the future, she will compassionately protect you. Therefore, continually proclaim her essence mantra.”
Direction of the Mandala: South, The Jewel Buddha Family, Seated on a Powerful Elephant Throne
Appearance: Blue like a Sapphire
Hand Objects: She has four hands. R: a Military-style Banner and a Hook of Compassion, L: an Utpal Flower and an Astrological Chart
Five Wisdoms-Five Poisons: She embodies All-accomplishing Wisdom and Victory over Pride.
Five Scriptures: She is the source of the Gé Bum, The Hundred Thousand Verses on Virtue.
Organ: Kidneys
Seed Syllable and Mantra: Depending upon the source text, she can arise from either seed syllable NI or RI. Her specific essence mantra is: OM MA MA DI RO CHÖ CHÖ SA LÉ É HA HI YANG DÉ SOHA
Brief Description of the benefits of practicing Topgyi Jamma: Afflictive emotions and enemies will be overpowered with your majestic brilliance. Opponents will abandon or settle their opposition. You will perfect the ten powers within yourself. Your lifespan, vitality, and charismatic power will flourish. You will attain children, wealth and riches. You won’t have any destruction coming from the eight classes of gods and spirits such as illness, negativity, poison, and so on. You will be able to withstand all infectious diseases. You will become a king of healing and medicine. Without exception, the accumulation of virtues will increase. You will be able to tame the demon army of the afflictive emotions. You will thoroughly stop rebirth into the impure lower realms. Positive qualities and virtues will become inexhaustible treasures.
Jamma Prayer Flag
Prayer flag of The Great Mother Sherap Jamma
“I prostrate to the Supreme Mother of the buddhas of the three times, a completely pure unsurpassed enlightened one, the actually manifest and perfected Buddha Jamma Chenmo!
Hri! Within a completely pure, self-manifested realm, just by paying homage and offering this supplication to the enlightened state of Yumchen Tukjé Jamma may we have victory over the eight fears!
OM MA WA MA DÉ MA HI MO HA É MA SA HA NI RI DZA HO BAM HUNG MA YÉ RU PA YÉ TA DU DU SOHA
Five Bodies, Eight Protector Goddesses, and groups of sixteen, thirty-two, and fifty manifestations, goddesses who tame birth, aging, and death, together with the buddhas and sempa [Sanskrit: bodhisattvas] of great loving kindness, please bestow protection from the eight fears of enemies, curses, infertility, the lu [Sanskrit: nagas], faults, a decreased lifespan or vitality, and harm from planetary causes! Please bestow glory and riches! Support perfect buddhahood! By expressing this king of all praises, may we have enlightenment within the space of the essence of the Great Mother Sherap Jamma, the Great Bliss Bönku, free from elaboration!
Whatever pure virtue that has been done through the three doors, we dedicate for the benefit of all the sentient beings of the three realms. Having purified every defilement and cumulative activity of the three poisons, may we quickly attain the perfect buddhahood of the three bodies!
OM MA WA MA DÉ MA HI MO HA É MA SA HA NI RI DZA HO BAM HUNG MA YÉ RU PA YÉ TA DU DU SOHA
Translation of the Jamma Prayer Flag
“A OM HUNG I and all the other sentient beings who are equal to the sky, in order to progress along the stages of the path of liberation and attain supreme enlightenment, we supplicate with an intense, single-pointed faith and longing to the unsurpassed five wisdom bodies of Jamma and to her retinue of 108 outer and inner manifestations. Incinerate the two obscurations and karmic potentialities with wisdom fire! Manifest the vital essence of an ocean of attainments within the three secret places! Manifestly increase the thousand lights of the four kinds of enlightened activity! Bless us with the attainment of the fruit of the five bodies!”
Excerpt from Prayer of Supplication within The Daily Practice of Künsel Jamma Chenmo
Sa tsa of Künsal Jamma Chenmo
“It is necessary even when sitting, think of Jamma. Even when sleeping, concentrate on Jamma. Even when eating, it is a feast offering to Jamma. And when moving about, move about within the state of Jamma. Apply these key points to the four kinds of activities. Practicing the deity without being separate from one another is the highest yoga of Jamma.”
Excerpt from The Daily Practice of Künsel Jamma Chenmo
*This is the essence mantra for Künsel Jamma Chenmo. There are other essence mantras that include the syllables for the five wisdom manifestations and the four protectors specifically.
**Mantras are according to the text compiled by H.H. the 33rd Menri Trizen Lungtok Tempa Nyima Rinpoche
The Jamma Nying Tik, The Heartdrop of Jamma is a practice that was given as an aural transmission to the 22nd Menri Trizin Kündun Sonam Lodrö directly from Sherap Lo Pelma. This practice is commonly recited each day especially by Bönpos living in the village of Dhorpatan, Nepal. According to this text, reading the practice once has the same benefit as reading the entire collection of Kangyur scriptures. This text has been translated and published in English, Spanish, and French and can be ordered here: https://www.lulu.com/search?page=1&q=jamma+nying+&pageSize=10&adult_audience_rating=00
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