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The Eighth Way: The Way of the Primordial Shen

The Deity of Longevity, Tsewang Rikdzin. This longevity practice is one of the tantric practices classified in the Eighth Way among the Nine Ways of Bon.

Among the Nine Ways of Bön, the Eighth Way is The Way of the Primordial Shen.  This Way is focused upon higher tantric practices which are distinguished by having both a generating stage of practice and a perfection stage of practice.  These two are based upon instructions for both method and wisdom.  Although they are united as one in ultimate reality, in order to guide sentient beings, they are taught individually due to our bias towards duality and conceptuality.

Because the root lama is the source of all spiritual accomplishment, one begins with arousing great devotion towards the root lama, taking refuge and generating a mind of great compassion.  After gathering the necessary ritual implements, Lord Tönpa Shenrap has emphasized the importance of making offerings to the governing spirits of the retreat place in order to elicit their support in providing circumstances to assist the practitioner.  After that, instructions are given in setting up the retreat place including the construction of the appropriate mandala. The main practice is focused upon generating a view of the external world as a palace of the divine and the sentient beings within it as gods and goddesses, and purifying the view of one’s own material body into the insubstantial body of light of the enlightened deity.  This process is supported by a single-pointed focus, visualization, and the use of sacred seed syllables.  According to the direct teachings of Lord Tönpa Shenrap Miwoche,

“From the light of meditative stability, the seed syllables radiate out and the environment along with its inhabitants, substantial forms, the physical body and karmic potentialities are all purified. The impure physical body is purified and transformed into a pure mudra in the form of the enlightened deity and the channels are transformed into buddha realms. The five elements and the five poisons are transformed into the five wisdoms.”

From this state of realization, mantra recitation and feast offerings are offered to the deities.  To conclude, one receives the blessings and extraordinary qualities of the deities.   From that, one abides within the state of realizing the phenomenal world and its activities as empty. This realization is developed and integrated  into every perception, and the ordinary conditions of avoidance and attachment are liberated.

For more on the Longevity Practice of Lama Tséwang Rikdzin, see post: https://ravencypresswood.com/2018/01/27/indestructible-the-longevity-practice-of-lama-tsewang-rikdzin/

Raven Cypress Wood©2017

 

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Offering Light

Offering light at Menri Monastery in Dolanji, India. Photo credit: Unknown.

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Presenting Offerings and Accumulating Merit

The Thousand Offerings to Nampar Gyalwa. Photo credit: Raven Cypress Wood

To all Those who have gone beyond bliss and their retinues,

who have the nature of the unborn and unceasing sky

and who have the un-arisen characteristics of the natural state of the mind,

with their countless, billions of emanations,

each unwavering from the ultimate state of great bliss,

and inexpressible beyond visualization and recitation,

prostrating and praising,

I present these offerings to You!

~ Excerpt from Presenting the Five Offerings.

Translated from the Tibetan by Raven Cypress Wood ©2017 All Rights Reserved

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Receiving Blessings

Rayna Menling nuns receiving a memorial chorten of 33rd Menri Trizen from HE Menri Lopon Thrinley Nyima Rinpoche.

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Offering Devotion and Receiving Blessings

His Eminence Yangton Menri Lopon Rinpoche presents the butter lamp offering.

On November 4, 2017, on the 15th day of the 9th Tibetan month, Tashi Menri Monastery in Dolanji, India held memorial events to mark the 49th day after the passing into liberation of the 33rd Menri Trizin Lungtok Tenpé Nyima Rinpoche. By invitation of His Eminence Menri Lopon Trinley Nyima Rinpoche, the tulkus, professors, geshes, and monks assembled in the temple. There, before the precious cremation bones, ash and relics of the 33rd Menri Trizin Rinpoche, with a feeling of intense longing, they prostrated and recited the Prayer to the Victor Bön, His Holiness Lungtok Tenpé Nyima Rinpoche.

L-Holy cremation ash C-Holy ringsel R-Holy cremation bone

Following that, the Praise of the Twelve Deeds of Shenrap Miwo Künlé Nampar Gyalwa was recited. Having formally presented the precious cremation bones, ash and relics to His Eminence Menri Lopon Rinpoche, he gifted each member of the monastic community with the actual accomplishment of the support for blessings, a majestic and empowered cremation bone.

Nuns of Menri perform the Tsewang Bo Yulma Tsok.

In the afternoon, the Menri community of nuns gathered and performed the Feast Offering of the Tséwang Bö Yulma. During this time, other monastic colleges within Menri Monastery performed various practices and rituals as well. Later, everyone gathered outside in the courtyard and again recited the Praise of the Twelve Deeds and the Prayer to His Holiness Lungtok Tenpé Nyima Rinpoche.

L-Cremation tsa tsa containing holy cremation bone. R-Public receiving a tsa tsa.

From then until midnight, both the monastic community and the public offered butter lamps, prostrations, and circumambulated the lama residence where the 33rd Menri Trizin had lived. At midnight, the public were invited to come before HE Menri Lopon Rinpoche and to receive a holy tsa tsa containing a majestic cremation bone inside. All of these holy relics, which are imbued with extraordinary power, are objects of support for the faithful to receive unlimited blessings and to develop profound devotion.

The Yungdrung Bon community chanting in the courtyard.

Once everyone had received a holy tsa tsa, they gathered outside where HE Menri Lopon Rinpoche led the presentation of the five offerings, the recitation of Offerings to the Lama, and the Prayer to His Holiness Lungtok Tenpé Nyima Rinpoche.

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