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Happy New Year! Highlights of 2025 for Nine Ways and A Peek Into 2026

Happy New Year! I would like to take this opportunity to share a little bit about the work of Nine Ways in 2025 and what is on its way in 2026. First, I would like to thank all of you who donated towards the work of Nine Ways in the past year. It is these donations that make Nine Ways possible and support my ability to translate Yungdrung Bön texts and publish articles and books to support the worldwide sangha. I appreciate each and every donation and offer my heartfelt gratitude. In this time when it seems as though everything is becoming monetized, I remain committed to keeping Nine Ways free and accessible without a paywall in 2026. However, this is only possible through your support. Supporters giving once a year or monthly donations are the reason Nine Ways is still available. Thank you!

2025

In 2025, Nine Ways published 30 articles with over 55,000 views throughout 139 different countries. Many articles were subsequently translated into other languages and, with permission, published on other websites to extend the reach of Nine Ways even further.

The Nine Ways website expanded to include the Nine Ways Shop ( https://ravencypresswood.com/nine-ways-shop/ ) that offers practice support and ritual items for Yungdrung Bön practitioners in the continental U.S. Purchase of the current items supports the memorial chorten for Yangtön Lama Tashi Gyaltsen Rinpoche that will be built in his home village of Tsarka in Dolpo, Nepal. To date, Nine Ways has raised over $1,500 for the chorten. These funds have been sent to his nephew, Geshe Tenzin Yangtön, who is overseeing the planning of the chorten. With these additional funds, he is now happily planning a larger and nicer chorten than he originally thought was possible.

In September, A Blazing Mala of Wish-fulfilling Jewels: A Compilation of Daily Prayers from the Yungdrung Bön Religious Tradition was published. For more about this book, see the announcement article here: https://ravencypresswood.com/2025/09/28/now-available-a-blazing-mala-of-wish-fulfilling-jewels-a-compilation-of-daily-prayers-from-the-yungdrung-bon-religious-tradition/

Throughout the year, due to the visibility of Nine Ways, I am contacted by Yungdrung Bön practitioners around the world requesting help in arranging personal rituals or prayers, seeking clarification regarding Tibetan language or translation advice, and/or help in connecting with a community sangha or nearest Yungdrung Bön lama. Please continue to reach out. I am happy to help when I can or connect you with someone else who can help.

2026

In 2026, Nine Ways will continue to offer articles related to the Yungdrung Bön tradition free of charge. If there is a particular subject that you would like to know more about and think it might also be of interest to the wider community, feel free to email me at RCW108@Gmail.com and suggest topics for articles.

In 2026, I will be expanding my online and in-person mentorship of Yungdrung Bön practitioners seeking guidance or advice regarding their practice or in preparation for an intensive personal retreat. These can be one-time consultations or regular meetings based upon what is most needed at the time. I am also available on a more limited basis for those wanting to have in-person support or guidance for their practice or personal retreat for one or more days. Email me at RCW108@Gmail.com for more information or to set up an appointment.

In response to many requests over the past couple of years, online classes are coming! I am in the process of planning a series of one-day as well as multi-day classes and support groups. Stayed tuned for more updates.

Nine Ways will publish my book of prayers and practice guidance that are for the benefit of those recently deceased. This book is entitled Planting a Garden of Virtue for the Deceased. This book will contain prayers and rituals that are performed throughout the first three days after death and the subsequent 49 days of the intermediate state before rebirth. Among the prayers that have been translated to include in this book is The Sutra of Destroying the Doors to Negative Rebirths. This text is one commonly recited in the Yungdrung Bön Tibetan community especially if a death was the result of a sudden accident or any kind of violence. In February 2025, a dear friend of mine was shot and killed in a random act of violence. This is the prayer suggested to me by His Eminence Menri Pönlop Yangtön Trinley Nyima Rinpoche. Having recited this prayer for 49 days, I was inspired to translate and publish it for the benefit of others. This is an excerpt from The Prayers of Aspiration within The Sutra of Destroying the Doors to Negative Rebirths:

“Having stopped the continuation of the heat and cold of the hell beings, may hatred and anger transform into an expanse of loving kindness! Having stopped the continuation of the hunger and thirst of the hungry ghosts, may desire and attachment transform into an expanse of generosity! Having stopped the continuation of the stupidity and muteness of the animals, may dull-mindedness transform into an expanse of wisdom! Having stopped the continuation of the savagery of humans, may jealousy transform into an expanse of openness! Having stopped the continuation of the fighting and disputes of the demi-gods, may pride transform into an expanse of peacefulness! Having stopped the continuation of the loss and downfall of the gods, may laziness transform into an expanse of diligence! Having stopped the continuation of the delusions of the beings in the intermediate state, may they transform into buddhas of happiness!”

Title page of The Sutra of Destroying the Doors to Negative Rebirths

The Tibetan New Year, or Losar, will be on February 18th and will be The Year of the Fire Horse. Because Buddha Tönpa Shenrap manifested in his human form during a Horse year, this will be a special year for all Bönpos. The article describing the significance of the Fire Horse year and its meaning according to Tibetan astrology will be published on Nine Ways in the coming weeks.

I hope that everyone and their loved ones are all doing well and that 2026 brings you abundant happiness, indestructible health, prosperity, merit, and positive circumstances!

Raven Cypress Wood with His Holiness the 34th Menri Trizin Rinpoche

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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Anniversary of the Passing Away of Kyabgön Dawa Gyaltsen Rinpoche

Kyabgön Dawa Gyaltsen

The anniversary of the passing away of Kyagön Dawa Gyaltsen Rinpoche is the 7th and 8th lunar days of the 11th month. In 2025, these dates coincide with December 26th & 27th on the Western calendar. He was born during the Fire Dragon year of 1796 and founded Ralak Yungdrung Ling Monastery on the bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River in 1834. This monastery developed into one of the largest and most prestigious centers for learning within the Yungdrung Bön tradition. It was renowned for its extensive library and the fact that it had its own woodblocks to print texts. The monastery contained many golden statues including a gilt-copper image of Nampar Gyalwa that was two-stories high.  It also contained reliquary stupas enshrining the remains of previous abbots. In 1965 during the cultural revolution, the monastery was burned to the ground. In 1982, two monks who had been in residence at the monastery prior to its destruction began the process of reconstruction.

Ralak Yungdrung Ling Monastery in Tibet. Photo credit: Unknown.

Supplication Prayer to the Lord of Refuge Dawa Gyaltsen

“You, a teacher born into the Amdo family lineage of Nangzhik, you spread the unrivaled Bön teachings of the White AH throughout your homeland.

You embody the essence of all buddhas by having having perfected the exalted qualities of the major and minor characteristics.

I pay homage to the Buddha who manifested in human form!”

— Translated from the Tibetan by Raven Cypress Wood

Reliquary containing the sacred relics of Kyabgön Dawa Gyaltsen. Photo credit: Unknown

At the age of sixty-seven during the water dog year of 1862 on the auspicious 8th lunar day of the middle winter month at mid-day, the warmth of his body and his consciousness concentrated at the center of his heart. His eyes looked straight ahead, unmoving. After the third sounding of the syllable “Pé!” related to the transference of consciousness practice, he left the shell of his physical body for the great bliss space of absolute reality.

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

Did you enjoy this content? This article is made possible by generous donors who want content like this to continue to be available. Don’t want to miss a post? Scroll to the bottom and click “Follow this blog.”

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9,842nd Anniversary of the Buddha’s Twelfth Deed: Demonstrating the Truth of Impermanence

Lord Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché lying in the sleeping lion posture and obtaining parinirvana in the presence of gods, humans, and lu.  

On the new moon day of the 1st Winter month in the Water Hare year, Lord Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché demonstrated the truth of impermanence by leaving behind the container of his physical body and transcending worldly suffering. In 2025, the anniversary of this date coincides with December 19th on the Western calendar. Any virtuous activity performed through the three doors of body, speech, or mind on this day is greatly multiplied.

At the age of eighty-two shen years (8,200 human years), the enlightened Lord Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché began to display the truth of impermanence for sentient beings by allowing the constituents of his physical body to become weak and to manifest illness. Alarmed, his disciples performed rituals and administered medicine. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of these methods according to relative truth, the Buddha temporarily recovered.

However, after a brief time had passed, he caused his physical condition to again weaken. This provided an opportunity for the Buddha to give teachings to his disciples regarding the process of death. Before leaving his physical human body, the Buddha spoke with his assembly of disciples and entrusted them with the responsibility of being lineage holders for particular teachings. He then prophesied regarding the future of his teachings including his teachings of mind, the time period when the written scriptures would no longer exist but would continue only by being held in the mind.

Lord Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché

“After I pass into nirvana, for 1,800 years the legacy of the teachings made during the presence of a Buddha’s body will be completed. Then, after my representative appears, my teachings of speech will remain for 10,000 human years. After that, the teachings of mind will remain for another 10,000 human years. After the teachings of mind come to an end, the average human lifespan will eventually decrease to only ten years. At that time, the future Teacher will appear. Those connected to me and my teachings, having reached the irreversible stage on the path, will dwell in liberation in the realm of absolute reality.”

At dusk on the new moon day of the 1st Winter month at the Nine-leveled Yungdrung Mountain, Lord Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché adopted the posture of a sleeping lion and demonstrated the accomplishment of passing beyond suffering. After the cremation of his physical body, the relics from the ash were distributed among the gods, humans, and the lu [Sanskrit: naga] as objects of faith and devotion.

After that, the assembly of disciples led by Aza Sangwa prepared vast and unsurpassed offerings and then presented them to the Teacher. Aza Sangwa then sang this verse:

“Highest Shen, having perfected renunciation and realization, you have blissfully departed. With compassion for beings, you took on a human form as the Victorious One. To you who took on this form, I prostrate!

Noble son of the Victorious One, glory of beings, you took on a form for the sake of migrating beings, a self-arisen emanation body. You sat upon the throne of the universal monarch and guided beings through the Nine Ways. In the realm of absolute reality, your nature is spontaneously perfect. Appearing as an tülku, you contemplated the welfare of beings. In the billion world systems of this pure realm, you emanated a billion emanations to tame. To you who fully tames, I prostrate!

For the difficult to tame sentient beings of cyclic existence, you deeply contemplate them with wisdom and loving compassion. You pacify their suffering and misery, causing them to abandon the lower realms and to be established on the path of liberation. To the perfect guide, I prostrate!

The Teacher, the glorious lamp of omniscience, although passing into nirvana in the vast expanse of the nature of phenomena, in order for your unceasing compassion to remain, you established the three aspects of the teachings as your legacy. To the Victorious One, I prostrate! 

Holy son of the Victorious One, although you were without any need for practice or attainment while experiencing various hardships, you perfected practice and attainment as an example for the benefit of migrating beings. To you who has perfects attainments, I prostrate!

Although there is no birth or death in the Victorious One’s body, in order to demonstrate with an example that phenomena with characteristics are impermanent, you showed the manner of passing into nirvana into the vast expanse of the true nature of phenomena. To the one who is completely accomplished, I prostrate!

Extract from the Zi Ji

Having offered this praise, the entire assembly prostrated, circumambulated, and made offerings. As a result, all the realms of the world intensely trembled. From the sky, many bright lights shone forth. From the intermediate space, many melodious sounds resounded. From the earth, many beautiful flowers bloomed. Among the realms tamed by the Teacher, countless sentient beings from the realms of the gods, the demi-gods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, and hell beings attained buddhahood. Those who remained behind were filled with great joy and became extremely attentive to the Yungdrung Bön teachings. Then, the Teacher’s pronouncements were finalized and compiled into precious volumes totaling sixty thousand, that were enshrined within the sacred site of Trimon Gyalzhe.

The parinirvana of Lord Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché is observed each year by monks, nuns, and lay practitioners worldwide. Photo credit: Unknown

One year later, an assembly of thirteen yungdrung sempa [Sanskrit: bodhisattvas] compiled the teachings of Lord Buddha. Time passed, and the era of being able to rely upon the physical presence of the Buddha drew to  a close. Then began the era of relying upon the Buddha’s speech. Lord Tönpa Shenrap’s successor, Mucho Demdruk, descended from the sky into Olmo Lungring and began to turn the wheel of Yungdrung Bön for gods and humans. Among his disciples were “the six intellectual ornaments of the world.” These six scholars translated the teachings of Lord Buddha into their respective native languages of Tazik, India, China, and Trom and therefore were able to spread the teachings of enlightenment in every direction.

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

Did you enjoy this content? This article is made possible by generous donors who want content like this to continue to be available. Don’t want to miss a post? Scroll to the bottom and click “Follow this blog.”

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Recitation of The Great Mantra at Samling

Ritual inside Samling Temple

From the 25th lunar day of the 9th month until the New Moon day of the 30th, Déden Samten Ling will conduct their annual practice and recitation of The Precious Lamp. These dates correspond with November 14th-20th, 2025 on the Western calendar. Déden Samten Ling, or simply Samling, is located in Dolpo, Nepal near the Tibet border and has been greatly beneficial to Yungdrung Bön especially in the preservation of its sacred scriptures. (For more about Samling, see previous article: https://ravencypresswood.com/2019/08/03/the-monastery-of-blissful-meditation-deden-samten-ling/

The Precious Lamp is the tantra of The Great Mantra of Yungdrung Bön, the mantra known as the MA TRI. Lord Tönpa Shenrap himself spoke about the benefits of the MA TRI mantra especially for sentient beings living during the dark era and encountering obstacles to practice and achievement.

“This Precious Lamp, the extracted heart essence of all of those who have gone to bliss, is the fundamental essence of the entire collection of sacred teachings. It is the quintessential essence of all Bön. It is the ultimate of all recitations. It is the highest of all views. It is the innermost essence of all meditations. It is the fulfillment of all activities. It is the most superior of all results. It is the heart elixir of the principal teachings. It is a sacred connection for sentient beings during a dark time. It is a key to the collection of sacred teachings. It is the lamp of the collection of oral transmissions. It is the refined gold of the quintessential instructions. It opens the door of intellectual confusion. It is a lamp that clears away the darkness of ignorance. So that sentient beings during the five hundred years-long time of darkness will not have to exert themselves in meditation or accomplishment, this mantra recitation is the practice advice. For those reasons, it is a sufficient recitation.”

“As for this Sufficient Recitation that is a Precious Lamp, for ordinary men and women at the time when their awareness becomes free from its physical container, if they merely remember this mantra when the four elements of their body disintegrate, that alone will keep them from descending to a lower rebirth and they will attain a blissful place of liberation. This mantra is a precious lamp of sufficient remembering.

If anyone who has generated the mind of enlightenment writes the mantra and places it above the doorway of a retreat place or a home, whoever enters that doorway will attain liberation. This mantra is a precious lamp of sufficient entering.”

Extract from The Thirty-two Benefits of the Sufficient Recitation that is a Precious Lamp
The MA TRI mantra displayed above the main door of a home.

The MA TRI mantra can be recited by anyone and is not required to be kept secret. It is one of Yungdrung Bön’s three essence mantras and is known as The Great Mantra. The complete mantra is OM MA TRI MU YÉ SA LÉ DU. There are many different melodies for its recitation. According to the text, when compassion is generated and its melody recited out loud, any sentient beings whose ear sense power perceives the mantric melody will attain liberation.

The profundity of the MA TRI mantra is inconceivable. It is said that if one wears it on the body, physical obscurations will be purified. If one recites it with speech, verbal obscurations will be purified. If one thinks of it in the mind, mental obscurations will be purified. If one recites the syllables continuously, there is no doubt that one will be reborn in a blissful realm immediately after death.

“The benefits of reciting this mantra just once are greater than filling all the worlds with the five precious substances and making offerings to the buddhas. All the aims of this life and the next will be accomplished.”

Commentary on the MA TRI mantra by Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen
Each of the syllables of the MA TRI have a specific color that corresponds with the deity that manifest from their essence

Although the power of a mantra is not limited to what can be expressed through language and therefore cannot be defined through concepts, it is possible to make associations of the syllables with their manifested expression to give some idea of their unique significance. For the MA TRI mantra, the associations are:

  • OM has the nature of the state of Tönpa Shenrap Miwo Künlé Nampar Gyalwa who is principally related to a skillful method of compassionately taming migrating beings.
  • MA has the essence of Tükjé Jamma, the source of everything, the vast expanse of the mother’s womb, and the basis for omniscience. It represents the characteristics of the great mother Tukjé Jamma who is principally associated with wisdom.
  • TRI is the seed syllable of Mucho Demdruk who protects from heat and cold through great love. He is the Subduing Shen of the hell realms. Hatred dissolves into the vast expanse of love.
  • MU is the seed syllable of Sangwa Ngangring who satisfies hunger and thirst through great generosity. He is the Subduing Shen of the hungry ghosts. Desire and attachment dissolve into the vast expanse of generosity.
  • YÉ is the seed syllable of Tisang Rangzhi who removes stupidity and muteness with great wisdom. He is the Subduing Shen of the animals. Mental dullness dissolves into the vast expanse of wisdom.
  • SA is the seed syllable of Drajin Pungpa who tames jealousy through great openness. He is the Subduing Shen of humans. Jealousy dissolves into the vast expanse of great openness.
  • LÉ is the seed syllable of Chegyal Parti who destroys pride through great peacefulness. He is the Subduing Shen of the demi-gods. Pride dissolves into the vast expanse of peace.
  • DU is the seed syllable of Yeshen Tsukpu who tames laziness through great zeal. He is the Subduing Shen of the gods. Laziness dissolves into the vast expanse of diligence.
MA TRI prayer flags

Prayer flags of the MA TRI mantra are currently available for purchase from the Nine Ways Shop. Their small size is perfect for hanging above doorways. Visit the Nine Ways Shop by clicking the link at the top of this page. Items sold support the construction of a memorial chorten for Yangtön Lama Tashi Gyaltsen. [Please note that items only ship within the continental United States.]

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

Did you enjoy this content? This article is made possible by generous donors who want content like this to continue to be available. Don’t want to miss a post? Scroll to the bottom and click “Follow this blog.”

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The Annual Retreat of the Blazing Tiger Deity, Takla Mébar

The Blazing Tiger Deity, Takla Mébar

Each year on the 23rd -29th lunar days of the 9th month, the congregation of Menri Monastery in India performs the wrathful retreat of the Blazing Tiger Deity, Takla Mébar. In 2025, these lunar dates coincide with November 12th-18th. This deity is a wrathful manifestation of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwo that incinerates all negativity, illness, and obstacles. Through practicing Takla Mébar as a yidam, or commitment deity, and receiving his blessings and power through intensive retreat and mantra recitation, illnesses and obstacles are removed, the five wisdoms arise, and one obtains the power to heal and benefit others. Performing the practice and reciting the mantra at least 100,000 times bestows the same kind of protection as if one is wearing body armor.

According to his principal function, Takla Mébar is depicted in a number of different ways. His body color can be red or dark blue, he can be with or without wings, and variously holding a golden spinning wheel, nine intertwined swords, an iron hook, a skull-cup filled with blood, a sword, or a wheel of fire.

A Takla Mebar ritual for incinerating negativity led by Barlé Khenpo Nyima Künchap Rinpoche at the Dolpo Bön School in Dunai, Nepal

“You, the greatly wrathful Takla Mébar have an enlightened body that is majestic and dark blue in color. Your hair billows throughout the limits of the three worlds of existence. You have divine sight, stand with legs spread apart, and your mouth is open with clenched teeth. 

You subdue and liberate those who pollute and corrupt their vows. The five deities of phenomenal space are seated upon your head. You protect the vitality and extend the life-span of Bön practitioners. You hold in your right hand a spinning wheel of fire that burns both those who have corrupted their vows and those who associate with them. You hold in your left hand a spinning, golden wheel for the activity of assisting and protecting those who have stainless vows.” 

From The Concentrated Essence of the Red Razor
Performing the Takla Mébar ritual of reversing negativity in Dolpo, Nepal

Nine Ways has a new Shop! Click the tap at the top of this page to see what practice support items are available. Currently, the Nine Ways Shop is fundraising in support of a memorial chorten that will be built in Tsarka Dolpo, Nepal for Yangtön Lama Tashi Gyaltsen. For more information about this chorten, go to this article: https://ravencypresswood.com/2025/10/18/in-support-of-a-memorial-chorten-for-yangton-lama-tashi-gyaltsen-rinpoche/

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

Did you enjoy this content? This article is made possible by generous donors who want content like this to continue to be available. Don’t want to miss a post? Scroll to the bottom and click “Follow this blog.”

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