Buddha Sherap Jamma, Mother of Wisdom and Love, cares for all beings as though they were her only child without any bias, prejudice, or limitation. The light of her wisdom and loving kindness shines continuously for everyone, like a bright sun that is not limited to time or location.
The Heartdrop of Jamma is a short, but profound, text that enables one to deeply connect with Sherap Jamma in order to receive her blessings and protection. The power of reciting this text with devotion has unimaginable benefits. Within the text itself, it details some of these extraordinary benefits.
“If you recite from the beginning until the end, it is the same as reciting the Kangyur one time. If you perform the practice daily, you will attain buddhahood in this single lifetime with this body. Because this is the oral transmission of the Mother and the khandro, if you practice without hope, fear, or doubt, buddhahood is certain.
It is said that if this is written in black ink and the practice is performed regularly, after three births one will attain buddhahood. if you read this with the support of a longevity arrow, you will attain the accomplishment of longevity. If you recite the mantra to good quality water mixed with powdered, medicinal incense and then cleanse with that water, all illness and sickness caused by negative forces will be pacified and all defilements and contaminations will be purified. Having recited the mantra to a protection cord, if you fasten it around your neck or to your upper body it will protect against all harm from sharp weapons or tools. Whatever the desired wish for yourself or others, if you pray and recite with a single-pointed focus, without a doubt it will be accomplished! Thus, it is said.”
Extract from The Heartdrop of Jamma, Te Wise Loving Mother
The English language translation of this text by Raven Cypress Wood is available in both print and eBook here: The Heartdrop of Jamma The Spanish language and French language translations will soon be available in eBook. Stay tuned!
For those who would like to listen to a mediative reading of the text, Raven has recorded and published it on the Nine Ways Youtube channel here: https://youtu.be/c9s82TmhfuA.
More Time Slots Now Available for Consultations or Mentorships
As of May 1, 2026, more online and in-person meeting times are now available for either individuals or groups for consultation or mentorship related to Yungdrung Bön religious practice or study. For more information, go to the Mentorships, Consultations, & Guidance page by clicking on the tab at the top of this page.
Coming Soon:
Raven will interview Geshema Sherap Yeshe Palzin, member of the first class of Ratna Menling nuns to receive a geshe degree and founder of Niu Pal Gyi De Nai. Born in Tibet in 1982 and having spent her childhood as a shepherd, she longed to devote her life to spiritual practice. After receiving novice vows at the age of nineteen, she spent over four months on a harrowing journey making her way to Nepal, mostly on foot. This interview will explore her journey to Menri in Dolanji, receiving her geshe degree, and now being a teacher to Westerners. Stay tuned!
Geshema Sherap Palzin
Have a Question about Something You Read? Contact Raven
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I am pleased to share an exciting update regarding my current and future published works. Nine Ways Press first title,Summoning the Drala: Protection and Support from Primordial Guardians. This was in response to multiple requests by the Yungdrung Bön faithful to have English translations related to invoking the drala available in order to prevent, harmonize, and/or avert disruptions or harm caused by astrological influences. There is both a spiral bound color book and an eBook available. Only the print book contains the Tibetan language prayers and corresponding phonetics for recitation. The spiral bound book includes an introduction that gives a brief explanation of the drala and how to make offerings, preliminary prayers, the main practices of the newly translated Essential Invocation of the Drala which is a prayer given by Buddha Tönpa Shenrap, and Command for the Queen of the Drala which was composed by The Second Buddha, the unrivaled Nyammé Sherap Gyaltsen Rinpoche. The practice booklet concludes with the hundred syllable mantra, a dedication of merit, and symbolic images of armor and weapons that can be used for making offerings. Both the print and eBook are available here: Summoning the Drala.
Takri Rong, Queen of the Drala
Additionally, the publishing rights for my previous books have begun to be transferred from Sacred Sky Press to my own imprint, Nine Ways Press. I remain deeply grateful to Sacred Sky Press for their support in first bringing this material into print, and for the care they showed throughout that process. Moving forward, these titles will be reissued under Nine Ways Press, with one exception, Indestructible, the Longevity Practice of Lama Tséwang Rikdzin will remain with Sacred Sky Press as it was their first publication.
The first title to be republished by Nine Ways Press is the English language translation of The Heartdrop of Jamma. Both the color and black and white editions have been completely reformatted to a digest-style book with the Tibetan language and its corresponding phonetics now separate for ease of reading. The prayer Removing Obstacles from the Path follows the main text. An appendices has been added to provide a concise reference for the associated meanings for each of the twenty-five mantric syllables of Sherap Jamma’s mantra, and includes an overview of the Nine Ways of Bön.
And for the first time, The Heartdrop of Jamma is now available as an eBook. https://www.lulu.com/heartdropofjamma. The Spanish and French language translations of the text will soon be published as eBooks followed by their respective printed formats.
“If you recite from the beginning until the end, it is the same as reciting the Kangyur one time. Whatever the desired wish for yourself or others, if you pray and recite with a single-pointed focus, without a doubt it will be accomplished!”
From The Heartdrop of Jamma
Buddha Sherap Jamma, The Wise Loving Mother
Listen to The Heartdrop of Jamma
Many people find reading difficult due to physical, cognitive, or other circumstantial challenges. For that reason, it has been requested that I record audio versions of my books. This will also be of benefit for those who prefer to listen, and those who would like to read along with a recording. Although I planned to begin recording audio for my books later in 2026, the passing of my mother on April 7, 2026 inspired me to record audio for The Heartdrop of Jamma and to release it in conjunction with publication of the book during the observation of her forty-nine days in the intermediate state after death. In dedication to my mother, this audio will remain free to the public and can be found on the Nine Ways youtube channel here: Youtube: https://youtu.be/c9s82TmhfuA. May this offering bring great benefit to many countless beings.
As previous and future works are published under Nine Ways Press, most will also be published as eBooks. This will especially make them more accessible to international readers. Additionally, in keeping with my mission of making these teachings as accessible as possible, I have decided to make all eBook editions freely available to anyone over the age of eighty. They only need to email me a request along with their birthdate, and I will provide them with the eBook download. I am excited about this expansion of my work and vision and the ways in which it will expand support for the Yungdrung Bön community and beyond.
More Time Slots Now Available for Consultations or Mentorships
As of May 1, 2026, more online and in-person meeting times are now available for either individuals or groups for consultation or mentorship related to Yungdrung Bön religious practice or study. For more information, go to the Mentorships, Consultations, & Guidance page by clicking on the tab at the top of this page.
Coming Soon:
Raven will interview Geshema Sherap Yeshe Palzin, member of the first class of Ratna Menling nuns to receive a geshe degree and founder of Niu Pal Gyi De Nai. Born in Tibet in 1982 and having spent her childhood as a shepherd, she longed to devote her life to spiritual practice. After receiving novice vows at the age of nineteen, she spent over four months on a harrowing journey making her way to Nepal, mostly on foot. This interview will explore her journey to Menri in Dolanji, receiving her geshe degree, and now being a teacher to Westerners. Stay tuned!
Have a Question about Something You Read? Contact Raven
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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After multiple requests by the Yungdrung Bön faithful to have English translations related to invoking the drala available in order to prevent, harmonize, and/or avert disruptions or harm caused by astrological influences, Nine Ways is happy to announce publication of Summoning the Drala: Protection and Support from Primordial Guardians. There is both a spiral bound color book and an eBook available. Only the print book contains the Tibetan language prayers and corresponding phonetics for recitation. There is an introduction that gives a brief explanation of the drala and how to make offerings. Prayers include the preliminary practices of requesing consideration, generating the mind of enlightenment, going for refuge, water cleansing, and fumigation with incense. Then follows the newly translated Essential Invocation of the Drala which is a prayer given by Buddha Tönpa Shenrap, and Command for the Queen of the Drala which was composed by the one known by Bönpos as The Second Buddha, the unrivaled Nyammé Sherap Gyaltsen, founder of Menri Monastery and the one who united the three lineage transmissions of sutra, tantra, and dzogchen. The practice booklet concludes with the hundred syllable mantra, a dedication of merit, and symbolic images of armor and weapons that can be used for making offerings to the drala. Both the print booklet and the eBook are available here: https://www.lulu.com/search?sortBy=RELEVANCE&page=1&q=drala&adult_audience_rating=00
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Tügkar, Drala, Changseng, and Nyen
Making Offerings
Summoning the Drala
Requesting Consideration
Going for Refuge
Generating the Mind of Enlightenment
Cleansing with Water
Fumigating with Incense
Essential Invocation of the Drala
Command for the Drala Queen
The One Hundred Syllable Mantra
Dedication
Appendix
Endnotes
This booklet is meant to be an immediate support for those in need rather than an in-depth study of the subject material. These specific prayers were chosen because they are frequently recommended as expedient ways to invoke support and neutralize harm by calling upon the drala who are a primordial class of worldly protecters. Especially, from the view of astrology, each year brings both supportive and challenging aspects to each individual. For those whose yearly Tibetan astrological calculation indicates a probability for obstacles, one of the recommended methods for support is to call upon the drala. (To know more about who can benefit from invoking the drala during the current year of the Fire Horse, see previous article: https://ravencypresswood.com/2026/02/14/2026-the-year-of-the-male-fire-horse/)
“From our great ancestor of the past, Mu Chuk Khorlo, until the present victors of Bön and beyond, we have relied upon you as our close allies and made offerings to the drala of the ancestral lineages from generation to generation. Now, at our time of need, when we call upon the army of gods because of enemies, we beseech you to come quickly without delay!”
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Mawé Sengé, Lion of Speech, with a sword of knowledge and a scripture.
After the Tibetan New Year celebrations, students at Menri Monastery enter into an intensive retreat to cultivate the qualities of the wisdom deity Mawé Sengé, Lion of Speech. This retreat begins on the 24th lunar day of the 1st month and concludes on the 30th lunar day. In 2026, these dates are March 12th – March 18th on the Western calendar. The purpose of this retreat is to receive the blessings and empowerment of the wisdom deity Mawé Sengé in order to develop and sharpen the students’ intellect to support their upcoming studies in the new school year. The practice of Mawé Sengé is performed many times each day and the mantra of the deity is recited as much as possible throughout the retreat with a minimum accumulation of one hundred thousand mantra recitations.
Mawé Sengé is the manifestation of the Dzok ku, the enlightened state that spontaneously expresses perfected qualities. If practiced regularly, he clears away the darkness of confusion, develops the intellect, and gives a quick and steadfast memory without forgetfulness. If his practice is properly applied and accomplished, there are seven specific signs that arise that indicate his blessings and power have been accomplished. These are called The Seven Signs of Attaining Wisdom that Blazes Like Fire. They are:
The sign of having removed the darkness of lack of knowledge from the intellect. Specifically, this refers to removing a weak or unclear intellectual understanding.
The sign of having the eye of wisdom. This is the attainment of clairvoyance, expansive knowledge, and wisdom.
The sign of being like a lion of glorious poetry. This refers to the ability to write expert discourses, specifically scholastic poems and compositions.
The sign of the sun of superior knowledge rising. This refers to the capability of having clear knowledge, without any confusion, regarding the qualities of any knowable subject.
The sign of attaining the recollection of intelligence that is never forgotten. This refers to a steadfast capability of remembering what has been learned without forgetfulness.
The sign of being like a thunderbolt when debating. This refers to the capability to brilliantly overcome all others, without defeat or fear, when debating any subject whatsoever.
The sign of the intellectual memory being fast like lightening. This refers to an extraordinary ability of having a clear and quick memory.
“I go for refuge to the wisdom deity for the intellect.I generate the supreme mind of enlightenment for the benefit of vigorous training in the highest wisdom.Having compassionately purified all karmic obscurations without exception, please bestow the attainments of an increased intellect, useful knowledge, and a divine voice!”
— From The Short Practice of Mawé Sengé. Tibetan translation: Raven Cypress Wood
Mawé Sengé holding a sword and a butter lamp
In the Yungdrung Bön tradition, there are two principal forms of the wisdom deity Mawé Sengé. Both of these forms share most characteristics. However, one form holds a sword and a scripture as the hand objects. The other form holds a sword and a butter lamp. This second principal form of Mawé Sengé is according to the prayer, An Offering of Praise for the Supreme Wisdom Deity Sherab Mawé Sengé, A Garland of Utpala Flowers composed by the highly revered Nyammé Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche.
“With a sword of wisdom held in your right hand, you cut the root of deluded thoughts and self-grasping.
With a butter lamp of clarity held in your left hand, you dispel the dark intellect and ignorance of migrating beings.
In the space to your right and left, the sun and moon blaze with the splendor of the inseparability of method and knowledge.”
— Extract from An Offering of Praise for the Supreme Wisdom Deity Sherab Mawé Sengé, A Garland of Utpala Flowers
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His Eminence Menri Pönlop Yangtön Trinley Nyima Rinpoche was born on the full moon day of the 1st Tibetan month of the Water Rabbit Year. In 2026, this date coincides with March 3rd. This is also the date that was traditionally celebrated as the birth anniversary of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap until research by His Eminence Menri Yongdzin Rinpoche corrected the date according to the ancient Zhang Zhung calendrical system which placed it one month earlier.
H.E. Menri Pönlop Yangtön Trinley Nyima Rinpoche is currently the pönlop, or headmaster, of the dialectic school within Pal Shenten Menri Monastery in Dolanji, India. He is a descendant of the renowned Gyal Shen Ya Ngal lineage that originated in a divine realm of clear light and predates the coming of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap 18,043 years ago. The Bön priests of this family lineage were the spiritual advisors and ritual masters for the Bönpo Zhang Zhung and Tibetan kings as well as being accomplished scholars. Among the many distinguished members of this family lineage, Yangtön Sherap Gyaltsen, who was born during the Fire Snake year of 1077 C.E., devoted himself to study and meditation such that there were no Buddhists who could defeat him in a debate. He became known as “Yangtön Chenpo,” “The Great Yangtön.” From this time forward, the lineage and all successive lineage holders were known as “Yangtön.” (For more about Yangtön Chenpo, see previous article: https://ravencypresswood.com/2017/05/27/yangton-sherap-gyaltsen/)
His Eminence, the Lord of Refuge, Menri Pönlop Trinley Nyima Rinpoche was born in northwestern Nepal, in the Dolpo village of Tsarka on the full moon, 15th day of the 1st month of the Water Rabbit year of the 16th rabjung cycle. This date coincides with March 10, 1963 on the Western calendar. His parents were Yangtön Tenzin Samdrup and Tenzin Chödrön. Beginning in 1975, under the guidance of his uncle Pema Wangdu he easily learned to read, write, and practice calligraphy very quickly. Around this time, he began his stay at the Yangtön Gompa of Yanggön Thongdrol Phüntsok Ling for a traditional three year retreat. He practiced the five supreme deities and the outer, inner, and secret tantric practices. In 1979 at the age of 16, he traveled to India with his elder cousin Lama Tashi Gyaltsen and received monk vows from the crown jewel of the Bön tradition, His Holiness the 33rd Menri Trizin Lungtok Tenpé Nyima Rinpoche, and the All-Knowing Tutor Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche. At that time, he was given the name Trinley Nyima.
H.E. Menri Pönlop Rinpoche with Lama Tashi Gyaltsen in Dolpo, Nepal
In that year, he entered the ranks of the Yungdrung Bon’s Teaching and Practice Assembly and received the transmission of the three main teachings of Bön: the outer, inner, and secret, including the scriptures, commentaries, and practical instructions. He also obtained the transmission of most of the teachings of the Jalupa Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen Rinpoche from the great dzogchen yogi of Dzogchen and abbot of Tsédruk, Tsondru Gyaltsen Rinpoche. Under the guidance of Geshe Yungdrung Namgyal, also known as Geshe Tsöndru Gongpel, he also studied the philosophical texts of other traditions which greatly enhanced his understanding of Bön’s own scriptures. As a result, he became an expert in explaining, debating, and composing on both the scriptures of Bön as well as other traditions.
H.E. Menri Pönlop Rinpoche handing out gifts to the children at The Dolpo Bön School in Dunai, Nepal
On February 21, 1989 after presenting oral and written examinations on the vast classical texts in the great temple of Menri Monastery, he received the title of Gewé Shé Nyen, often shortened to Geshe, the equivalent of a Doctorate of Divinity and Science. For three years after that, he served as the senior professor of the Department of Philosophy and Buddhist Studies at the Shen Institute of Medicine at Menri.
In 1992, both His Holiness the 33rd Menri Trizin and Menri Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche bestowed upon him the sacred obligation of assuming the position of Menri Pönlop, which was accepted by him on the 5th day of the 1st Tibetan month, coinciding with the birthday celebration of the Great Master and founder of Menri, Nyammé Sherap Gyaltsen. From that time forward, he has been fully responsible for the activities of the Yungdrung Bön Academy, providing extensive teachings and conferring the title of Geshe upon students who complete their doctorate studies.
H.E. Menri Pönlop overseeing exams at Menri Monastery
Because His Eminence works tirelessly to fulfill his role as Menri Pönlop, to support lamas and disciples, travels the world to offer teachings, transmissions, empowerments, and scholarly knowledge to any interested persons regardless of their status or affiliation, it is impossible to list but a few examples here.
His Eminence has traveled widely to give teachings and empowerments, to speak at universities and conferences, acted as an executive member of Dolpo and Himalayan organizations, been interviewed worldwide for television and radio, filmed for documentaries, and acted as a consultant for books and other projects involving Bön religion and culture. In spite of his ongoing busy schedule, in 2004 he underwent a forty-nine day solitary retreat. This is an example of how he is a master of both knowledge and experience.
Also in 2004, he established a Bön center named Dzogchen Samten Ling in the southern part of France. In September of that same year, upon returning to Menri Monastery, he presided over discussions about modernizing the examination system for the Menri students. As a result of those discussions, the groundwork for an updated examination system was put into place. He has been instrumental in the planning and establishment of bestowing full ordination on the nuns of Radna Menling, establishing a dialectic school for them that bestows the title of Geshe, and organizing a student exchange between the medical colleges of Menri Monastery and Triten Norbutsé Monastery in Nepal. In 2009, he established Khyungdzong Wödsel Ling in California in order to support Bön teaching, as well as cultural, humanitarian, and charitable activities in a variety of ways.
The Dolpo Tsaga Welfare Healthcare Clinic in the village of Tsarka in upper Dolpo, Nepal
In 2012, after much planning and organizing, His Eminence was able to open a free healthcare clinic in his home village of Tsarka in Upper Dolpo, Nepal. Upper Dolpo is the most remote and least developed district in Nepal and is cut off from the rest of Nepal by a series of high mountain passes. Because of this, it is isolated from the rest of the world by snow for many months of the year. At the request of the local villagers and nomads, H.E. Menri Pönlop Rinpoche, with the help of many generous donors, built the medical clinic and continues to provide for its supplies and staffing year round. The Dolpo Tsaga Welfare Healthcare Clinic provides free healthcare and health education to any resident of Upper Dolpo regardless of religion or status. Prior to the availability of healthcare, infant mortality was over 50%, maternal mortality was over 25%, and simple cuts and fractures could easily lead to sepsis and death. (For more about the clinic or to support their mission, go to KWLing.ORG )
Menri Lopön Rinpoche at work on his Encyclopedia of the Bön Religion.
Although His Eminence reminds students and disciples of the ample literature already available by previous masters, he has also written many articles and essays relating to Bön religion and culture when requested or needed. A collection of these writings in Tibetan was published in 2013 by Gyalshen Institute entitled Selected Writings of Menri Lopön Yangtön Trinley Nyima Rinpoche. Around this same time, His Eminence was deeply involved in writing an Encyclopedia of the Bön Religion. Feeling that a great deal of Bönpo language, history, culture, and concepts were in danger of being lost due to the influence of the modern world on younger generations, he began the enormous task of documenting everything in a Bön specific encyclopedia. Pönlop Rinpoche’s new encyclopedia contains more than twelve thousand different entries, which include comprehensive articles and definitions. Entries include:
Tibetan and Zhang Zhung words and terminology specific to the Bön religion
Biographies of Bönpo scholars and practitioners, both historical and contemporary
Descriptions of significant places in Bön history
Descriptions of Bön religious symbols, images, and objects
Names and descriptions of Bön deities
Scholars of Tibetan culture regularly have problems correctly understanding the language in Bönpo texts because such texts use different words, or familiar words that have different meanings than the terminology used by Tibetan Buddhists. A work of this scope on Bön has never been published before. Although the BönEncyclopedia is in the Tibetan language, after the initial publication Lopön Rinpoche hopes to have it translated into English. Currently, the encyclopedia is undergoing a final edit.
Considering the tireless activity of His Eminence, this is but a sample of his extraordinary works and wisdom. It is truly beyond measure or description. On this auspicious day of the anniversary of his birth, it is especially powerful to engage in acts of virtue and to refrain from acts of nonvirtue, and to practice according to the advice and teachings of His Eminence and to dedicate for the benefit of his long and indestructible lifespan.
é ma ho, khyen tsé yön ten kün dzok ngo wo nyi, la mé tek pé dzö dzin ya ngal wa,
trin lé nam zhi nyi ma rap trö té, zhi dé ta shi ten drö sal jé shok
Amazing!
You have the essential nature of the completely perfected qualities of knowledge and kindness. A member of the Ya Ngal lineage, you hold the treasury of the unsurpassed vehicle.
May the bright sun which radiates your four kinds of activities illuminate both beings and the teachings with the auspiciousness of peace and happiness!
(Written by the supreme 33rd Menri Trizin Rinpoché, Western date 11/23/2012)
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