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The Five Wisdom Manifestations of Sherap Jamma & The Yidam Divination During the Empowerment

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

To hear the chanting of 108 of Sherap Jamma’s heart mantra by Geshe Yongdong Losar, follow this link: https://sherabchammaling.com/teachings/videos/

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

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

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The Time to Practice the Deity Tséwang Rikdzin 

Mural of Lama Tséwang Rikdzin inside Yanggön Thongdrol Phüntsok Ling temple in Dolpo, Nepal

On the 10th lunar day of the Horse month (3rd lunar month) of the Fire Horse year of 914 BCE, the Great Lama Drenpa Namkha was born in the kingdom of Zhang Zhung. (For more information about Drenpa Namkha, see previous article: https://ravencypresswood.com/2016/05/06/practice-of-the-great-lama-drenpa-namkha/ ) On the 10th lunar day of the Monkey month (5th lunar month) in the Water Monkey year of 888 BCE in the kingdom of Zhang Zhung, his twin sons Tséwang Rikdzin and Pema Tongdrol were born. For this reason, the 10th lunar day of each month is designated for the practice of the Great Lama Drenpa Namkha and his two sons, Tséwang Rikdzin and Pema Tongdrol. For the remainder of 2024, the 10th lunar day of each month coincides with July 16th, August 14th, September 13th, October 12th, November 11th, and December 10th. On these days, it is especially auspicious to recite prayers, supplicate, and make offerings to Lama Drenpa Namkha, Tséwang Rikdzin, and/or Pema Tongdrol.

Bhutanese mural of Zhang Zhung Drenpa Namkha

The mother of the twins was the daughter of an Indian Brahmin, Khandro Öden Barma. It is said that Tséwang Rikdzin, named Yungdrung Dönsal at birth, was firstborn from the right side of her womb and had a peaceful, light-colored complexion with the mark of a yungdrung in the center of his forehead. While Pema Tongdrol was born from the left side of her womb and had a more wrathful, dark-colored complexion. As youths, Tséwang Rikdzin had a naturally peaceful disposition and his brother was more active and excitable. However, although they appeared like ordinary human beings to those with impure vision, both brothers were emanations of realized beings. Pema Tongdrol was an emanation of the yogi Takla Mébar and Tséwang Rikdzin was an emanation of Sangwa Düpa. Some years later, Öden Barma wanted to return to her birthplace in India and Drenpa Namkha wanted to stay in Zhang Zhung. Thus, due to various circumstances, the parents separated for a time. Pema Tongdrol went with his mother to India and Tséwang Rikdzin stayed with his father is Zhang Zhung. 

Tséwang Rikdzin’s hagiography in four volumes was discovered as a treasure text by Sang Ngak Lingpa. It details how, like his father, Tséwang Rikdzin remembered the teachings and practices of his previous 500 lifetimes. He attracted his own disciples, traveled to many sacred places in order to teach, meditate, and subdue harmful spirits. He practiced with six different khandro who had devoted their lives to religious practice and who attained their own realization and became lineage holders of Tséwang Rikdzin’s teachings. Although he could appear in any form necessary to help sentient beings, he is described as primarily having six different manifestations corresponding to the six different mountain retreats where he practiced and performed miracles. Because he transcended cyclic existence, purified all obscurations, and perfected all positive qualities, he is practiced as a yidam deity.

Tséwang Rikdzin depiction according to the Tséwang Jarima

The Tséwang Jarima, Tséwang’s Cycle of Teachings Given at Bird Mountain, is a cycle of practices primarily focused on longevity, restoring and supporting the vital life force, and practices to pacify negative spirits endangering the health or lifespan. This cycle was established during his time practicing near Mt. Tisé (a.k.a Mt. Kailash.) At that time, a nyulé demoness and other evil-minded nyulé spirits were attacking the fertility of individuals and also cutting the lifespan of young children. Moved by compassion, Khandro Tukjé Kündrol appeared to Tséwang Rikdzin and transmitted a method for both protecting and restoring the lifespan. This practice for longevity and healing is widely practiced to this day. (For more about the longevity practice of Tséwang Rikdzin, see Indestructible ) 

“How wonderful! In the supreme place upon the summit of Jari, the great Tséwang Rikdzin was surrounded by a retinue of thousands of male and female rikdzin.  At that time, the great mother, Tukjé Kündrol, in order to benefit sentient beings who had an exhausted or damaged lifespan, she spoke this secret long life mantra which is the source of all wish-fulfilling things.” -Extract from the Tséwang Jarima

Tséwang Rikdzin siting atop a white elephant in the longevity temple on Mt. Emei in China. Photo credit: Khedup Gyatso

The Tséwang Böd Yulma, Tséwang’s Cycle of Teachings Given in Tibet, is a tantric text whose view is closely aligned with that of dzogchen. The main body of the scripture is divided into the Ten Scrolls that provide instructions for various practices such as extracting the essence, transference of consciousness, and pointing out naked awareness. This text was found as a treasure text by the tertön Bön Zhig Yungdrung Lingpa. The volume also contains additional and complimentary practices such as Tséwang’s Precious Mala of Beneficial Aspiration Prayers. (The English translation of this prayer is available for download on the Publications page of this website.) The final act of outer religious practice performed by Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen before he entered his tent and attained the rainbow body at the time of his passing into nirvana, was to perform the feast offering of the Tséwang Böd Yulma.

The Tséwang Gya Garma, Tséwang’s Cycle of Teachings Given in India, includes works focused on fire ritual, fumigation offering, healing from various maladies, tsa lung, and practices for the khandros Tukjé Kündrol and Kalpa Zangmo, among others.

Some texts record Lama Tséwang Rikdzin’s lifespan as being 800 years, others record it as 500 years. However, there is no record of his passing away in any text. In fact, during the time of the emanation of Drenpa Namkha of Tibet who lived the 8th century, Tséwang Rikdzin actually attended his dzogchen teachings. He was then known as Ritropa, The Hermit. For this reason, it is said that he gained power over life and death in order to continue working for the vast benefit of sentient beings.

In the Tséwang Gya Garma, Tséwang Rikdzin is depicted with a body that is dark-red and with a consort. His hand objects differ according to specific practices.

Supplication Prayer to Tséwang Rikdzin

How wonderful!

Supreme son of The Great Lama, Tséwang, you are a protector of migrating beings who activated the flow of karma and met with the Yungdrung Bön. First, you trained in the study and contemplation of inner and outer Bön. Then, meditating upon the ultimate meaning, you reached the level of a rikdzin. You traveled to sacred places high and low throughout the world such as India, China, Zhang Zhung, Tazik, Orgyen, Drusha, Gilgit, Ménak, and so on. Together with the khandro, you reveled in the ordinary and supreme accomplishments. You attained power over the mind and brought the four elements under your control. You bound with oaths the male and female non-human gods and demons. You greatly increased vast benefit for migrating beings. At this current time, bestow accomplishment upon your faithful children!

“I will proclaim my speech and show my face to those with a karmic connection. Those followers in the 500 years of the dark time, listening steadfastly without distraction and supplicate! I will quickly catch you with my iron hook of compassion!”

If the time has come to keep you promise, reveal your face and bestow the profound oral instructions!

“Because of doubtlessly practicing recitation practice to me, I will certainly reveal my face.”

If the time has come to keep you promise, reveal your face and teach the profound oral instructions!

“Without miserliness, make offerings to me and I will rain down a shower of both the ordinary and the supreme attainments.”

If the time has come to keep you promise, bestow the attainments without exception!

“Without biased nonattachment, wander the mountain hermitages and I will point out the infallible path of liberation.”

If the time has come to keep you promise, show the correct and supreme path of liberation!

“Act effortlessly without hypocritical nonattachment and I will act as a special companion providing supportive circumstances.”

If the time has come to keep you promise, act as my companion and establish the supreme path of the Great Vehicle!

“By extracting the essence of earth and stones and eating that as food, I will bestow inexhaustible great, precious treasure.”

If the time has come to keep you promise, completely supply all necessities!

“Without being covered by the stain of wrongdoing, practice the path of skillful means of tsa lung and meditation and I will ignite the blissful heat of meditative stability.”

If the time has come to keep you promise, provide completely perfect supportive circumstances!

“I am deathless, with an indestructible lifespan. During the 500 years of the dark time, I will send forth a multitude of emanations.”

If the time has come to keep your promise, please come as a multitude of supreme holders of the doctrine!

All translations from the Tibetan by Raven Cypress Wood

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Happy Tibetan Year of the Wood Dragon!

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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.”

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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.

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

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