His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche performs a water purification ritual. Photo credit: Unknown.
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Lineage of Ancient Wisdom
HH 34th Menri Trizin Dawa Dargye Rinpoche and HE Menri Ponlop Yangton Thrinley Nyima Rinpoche during a ritual at Menri Monastery in Dolanji, Inida. Photo credit: Unknown.
Giving Without Attachment
Mandala Offering at Tokden Yungdrung Bon Monastery. Photo credit: Unknown
“EMAHO!
To the great, peerless lama possessing characteristics, I present unequaled external, internal and secret offerings.
Externally, I offer the environment and the beings within it. I offer my own body and its vitality as an ornament. Furthermore, I present these offerings with non-attachment.
Internally, I offer the arising of my mental and physical aggregates. I offer my accumulated realization that whatever arises as subject and object is illusory. Furthermore, I present these offerings within the vast space of self-liberation.
Secretly, I offer the natural radiance of my unborn mind, which is unceasing and understands whatever arises as enlightened manifestation and wisdom. Furthermore, I present these offerings within a completely vast and all-pervasive space.”
—From Offerings for the Lama. Translated from the Tibetan by Raven Cypress Wood
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Sacred Offering of Flowers
Ritual flower offering of ornamented tsampaka being prepared. Photo credit: Jessica Gallego
Within the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition, flowers are one of the five daily offerings and an important offering during most rituals. Often tsampaka seeds are used to create an auspicious flower offering that never withers or fades in beauty. These seed pods grow on commonly found trees in the Himalayas and measure an average of 25 to 28 inches in length.
Left: tsampaka seed pod Center: tsampaka seed pod with seeds iinside Right: tsampaka seeds. Photo credit: Raven Cypress Wood
As a ritual flower offering, the winged seeds are glued one above another to a small piece of wood or bamboo. The center of the seeds are then painted or otherwise decorated with the five colors of the five elements.
Tsampaka flower offerings for a Nampar Gyalwa Fire Ritual. Photo credit: Raven Cypress Wood.
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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Accumulating Merit & Wisdom
Photo credit: Jana Kolarik
Through recitation of the sacred Yungdrung Bön texts, we accumulate both merit and wisdom. By making a commitment to recite a certain text every day or a specified number of times and then fulfilling that commitment, the power of our practice is amplified. Recitation of the sacred texts is also one of the thirteen Bön activities. See previous post: https://ravencypresswood.com/2018/01/14/the-thirteen-bon-activities/
As a support to the worldwide Yungdrung Bön community, Raven Cypress Wood has provided her translation of select Yungdrung Bön prayers on this website for the personal use of Yungdrung Bön practitioners. See the Publications page of this website at the link below for more information. https://ravencypresswood.com/publications/
“EMAHO!
Enlightened Ones of the ten directions who appeared in the past,
Enlightened Ones of the ten directions who appear in the present,
Enlightened Ones of the ten directions who will appear in the future,
the Mind of the lama is the embodiment of all these Enlightened Ones of the three times.
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 Oral Transmission of Khandro Shérap Lopélma
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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Nine Ways 