Sacred Sky Publications announces the publication of The Heartdrop of Jamma translated and annotated by Raven Cypress Wood. This text, also known as the Jamma Nying Tik is an aural transmission that was given to H.H. 22nd Menri Trizin Sonam Lodro Rinpoche by a manifestation of Jamma known as Khandro Sherap Lo Pélma, the wisdom mother who increases the intellect. In the practice of The Heartdrop of Jamma, each part of the practitioner’s body is transformed into an aspect of Jamma. In that way, one’s entire body becomes the enlightened mandala of the Loving Mother.
“From the syllable RU at each hair of the body manifests the 5,500 primordial shen, the spiritual heirs of Jamma. I prostrate to the Mother of heaven and earth; the mother of the grounds and the paths and the different kinds of authentically established existence, to the mother who gives birth to the Victorious Ones’ spiritual heirs!
From the syllable PA at each hair of the head manifests the limitless hundreds of thousands of Jamma emanations. I prostrate to the Mother who turns back enemies, obstacles, illnesses, and negativity; the Mother who is the glorious guide along the path!“
— From The Heartdrop of Jamma
This booklet includes annotated, color images of Jamma along with her five wisdom manifestations and her eight manifestations that protect from fear. Additionally, there is a brief biography of H.H. 22nd Menri Trizin Sonam Lodro. In order to further support the practice, the booklet concludes with the translation of Removing Obstacles from the Path, another aural transmission of Khandro Sherap Lo Pélma that is often practiced as a daily recitation in the Bönpo community and considered a powerful means of protection and support.
“I pray to the 360 manifestations of Great Jamma. Single Mother for everyone who is without refuge or a protector remove external, internal and secret obstacles which are enemies along the path! Grant your blessings that my wishes will be spontaneously accomplished!”
— Extract from The Heartdrop of Jamma
This publication can be purchased by following the link below:
HH 34th Menri Trizin Rinpoche and HE Menri Ponlop Rinpoche. Photo credit: Unknown
“To the embodiment of all the places of refuge, the root lama,
I pay homage, admit my wrongdoing, present offerings, and supplicate!
Please pacify all obstacles, and guide me along the path of liberation!
Bestow your blessings that my wishes will be spontaneously fulfilled!”
— From The Spontaneous Wish-fulfillment of Removing Obstacles from the Path
The full English, Spanish and Portuguese translation of The Spontaneous Wish-fulfillment of Removing Obstacles from the Path is freely offered for personal use by Raven Cypress Wood. Go to the Publications page for the download link.
Yungdrung Kolek Chorten before installation of the Küntu Zangpo statue. Photo credit: Raven Cypress Wood
The first Yungdrung Bön chorten [Sanskrit: stupa] in the United States has been constructed at the Serenity Ridge Retreat Center of Ligmincha International located in Virginia, United States. This chorten is designed according to the specific style of The Elegant Yungdrung Chorten, or Yungdrung Kolek Chorten. It has been sponsored by Vicki Wheaton in memory of her deceased husband and deceased mother. Land for the chorten was donated by Ligmincha International and its spiritual director, Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. The area designated for the chorten was consecrated by His Eminence Menri Pönlop Yangtön Trinley Nyima Rinpoche in 2014.
His Eminence consecrating and blessing the future site of the chorten. Phot credit: Raven Cypress Wood
The knowledgeable Khedup Gyatso, who directed the construction of both the cremation chorten and the memorial chorten for H.H. 33rd Menri Trizin Rinpoche at Menri Monastery, also directed the construction and installation of sacred items within the chorten at Serenity Ridge.
Left: Khedup Gyatso directing the building, Center: sa tsa and juniper being placed inside, Right: Vicki Wheaton placing Yungdrung Bön texts inside the chorten.
Rising up through the center of the chorten is a sok shing, a pillar of vitality. The sok shing is empowered with the five warrior seed syllables and wrapped in cloth and string of the five colors. Attached to the sok shing is a golden yungdrung, a clear crystal, a variety of five precious gems, five grains, five fruits, white mustard seeds, and black mustard seeds.
Left: A section of the wrapped sok shing. Right: Close-up of the five grains affixed to the sok shing.
Also within the chorten are many Yungdrung Bön texts from the three lineages of sutra, tantra and dzogchen. Each of these texts were checked to ensure that they were complete with no pages missing or damaged. Consecrated clay molds of sacred forms, called sa tsa, were made either in the form of a chorten or Sherab Jamma. Each of them contain the mantras of enlightened body, speech and mind, consecrated rice, as well as powdered medicine and incense from Tibet. There are a total of 110 sa tsa within the chorten.
Khedup Gyatso and Raven Cypress Wood collecting, organizing, and verifying yungdrung Bön scriptures to be placed within the chorten
The Elegant Yungdrung Chorten also contains many sacred images of deities and mandalas including images of H.H. 33rd Menri Trizin Lungtok Tenpé Nyima Rinpoche and H.E. Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche; hair and cremation ash of H.H. 33rd Menri Trizin Lungtok Tenpé Nyima Rinpoche; and many kinds of medicine and excellent substances.
Mold forms for the clay sa tsa. Left: Outside of the chorten-style sa tsa mold. Center: Inside of chorten sa tsa mold. Right: Inside of the Sherap Jamma-style sa tsa mold.
The Tibetan word “chorten” is a compound of two words and literally means “support for offerings.” As part of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap’s teachings regarding The Fifth Way: The Way of Lay Practitioners, he first introduced the construction of chortens as a support for the practice of purification and the accumulation of merit. Each aspect of a chorten is symbolic and its placement, shape, and size are all specific. The first chorten that the Buddha instructed his disciples to build was The Elegant Yungdrung Chorten.
“In order to teach future generations, and because it is necessary to purify defilements and perfect the accumulation of merit, establish a chorten to act as a support for devotional prostrations and circumambulations.”
—Words of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap from his hagiography Radiant Splendor, also known as the Zi Ji.
These exact measurements illustrate the self-nature of the divine. By using the correct measurements to construct a chorten, it becomes a proper dwelling place for enlightened energy. It is said within the texts that if a chorten is built for the buddhas’ relics, even defilements from the five heinous acts will be purified and it is needless to say that lesser acts will be purified. The potency of the exalted good qualities of the relics is inconceivable. Through these limitless exalted qualities and power, whoever makes a request at a chorten containing the buddhas’ relics by prostrating, circumambulating or making offerings can purify the two kinds of defilements and complete the two kinds of accumulations.
“The Teacher, having opened the mandala of the mu tri gods, performed a vast investiture and consecration ceremony from the completely pure tantra The Body of Those Who have Gone Beyond Bliss. Then, he gave it the name “Yungdrung Kolék Chorten, The Elegant Yungdrung Chorten.” At this, all of the gods above, the lu below, and the human beings in-between were joyous and offered praise.”
—From The Fifth Way: The Way of Lay Practitioners within the hagiography of Tönpa Shenrap entitled, Radiant Splendor, also known as the Zi Ji.
The newly constructed Elegant Yungdrung Chorten at Serenity Ridge was consecrated by H.H. 34th Menri Trizin Lungtok Dawa Dargyal Rinpoche during his visit and teachings at Serenity Ridge during the summer retreat of 2019.
His Holiness the 34th Menri Trizin Consecrating the chorten. Photo credit: Raven Cypress Wood.
Escape From Darknesstells the story of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap’s younger daughter, Shenza Nechung. Translated from the medium-length hagiography of the Buddha, the Do Zer Mik, this book chronicles the gripping journey of Shenza Nechung from princess, to prisoner, to spiritual leader among her father’s disciples. Lacking the power of true understanding and stable faith, she was led astray by delusion as a youth. Her mother gave her advice, but it was of no avail.
“My daughter Shenza Nechung was restless, and her mind was not steady. She even had an inauspicious dream. I asked her to pick flowers in the garden and make an offering of them to the temple along with prostrations. I sent her to pick flowers. Her return was taking too long, and when I went to the garden to look for her, she was not there. The garden was empty. I looked for her in the four directions, and she was nowhere to be seen. I called for her in the four directions, and there was not a single trace of her. Now all of you must search for her in the four directions.”
— Extract from Escape from Darkness: The Spiritual Journey of the Buddha’s Daughter, Shenza Nechung
Shenza’s story has been translated from the Tibetan into English for the first time by Sangmo Yangri, Ph.D. She received her Ph.D. in Bön and Buddhist studies in 2013 and has published various articles and taught at Ratna Menling Nunnery. Dr. Yangri is currently a teacher and translator for Lishu Institute in Northern India.
Nine Ways 