Dzogchen - teachings in Lishu
September-November – 2017
- Anna-Kaisa Hirvanen
The main subject of the third year of Lishu program is Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyud (The Oral Transmission from Zhang Zhung) which is the prominent cycle of Dzogchen teachings in Bon tradition. Dzogchen is the teaching of Great Perfection on the nature of our mind.
During this first trimester from September 4th to November 10th we have been focusing on the practice of A-te and Trekchod. A-te practice stabilizes and calms the mind and Trekchod brings familiarity with the Natural State of Mind. We´ve been studying these practices from Gyalwa Chagtrid - text by Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung and having formal practice sessions four times a day. To understand the general overview of Dzogchen, we have studied the 12 small precepts -text (Gyud Bu Chung Chu Nyi) and 35 defects of meditation Gom Kyon So Nga ) from Kusum Rangshar -text by Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen.
In addition, we have had classes on the oral transmission lineage of Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyud and the biographies of the 24 August Masters of Zhang Zhung. In our daily schedule of practice we have included the offerings of Sang, Chod and Sur just as in our second year of studies and practiced Tsa Lung Trul Khor (Tibetan yoga) every morning.
Behind this link you can see some clips of our daily rituals in Lishu
Drumming class in Lishu Gompaa
The greatest teaching that we have received during this trimester came about suddenly, as His Holiness Menri Trizin Lungtok Tenpa`i Nyima Rinpoche, the supreme head of Bon tradition and of all Bonpos, passed away to Parinirvana on 14th September, at the age of 89. The Lishu Sangha was very fortunate to be able to travel to Menri monastery right away after hearing the news of his passing away, on the morning of 15th September, with our teachers Dr. Sangmo Yangri and Menri Geshe Sherab Lodoe. To witness His Holy Body (Kudung) in thugdam, which is the meditative state where the practitioner stays during and after the time of death, is something one cannot really describe in words. While the physical body is clinically speaking dead, the area of the heart stays warm and practitioner stays in meditation pose, which in the case of His Holiness lasted for five days. Big stream of blessing ran through us as we had the fortune to experience the radiance of this state for a little moment as we payed a short visit to His Holiness´chamber where the Kudung was staying in thugdam. Everything that the teachings talk about on the Nature of Mind is very much real and present in this state.
His Holiness´s Kudung in Thugdam
His Holiness fully embodied all the qualities of the enlightened body, speech and mind. His whole life was solely dedicated to benefiting and helping others. When you read his biography even in short form, it seems like he has accomplished many lifetimes of helping others within one lifetime.
In brief, he joined the monastic life at the age of 7 and studied all the important teachings and skills of monastic training as well as tibetan medicine, completing his Geshe degree (equivalent to Ph.D. ,highest academic degree in Bon tradition) at the age of 25. He was involved in preserving many Bon text and books, traveled widely within Tibet and was invited to teach in the universities of London and Oslo by professors David Snellgrove and Paer Kvaerne. At the age of 40 he was selected through a precise process of rituals to be the 33rd Abbot of Menri monastery and the supreme head of all Bonpos. He carried all the responsibilities of this highly demanding task through the rest of his life. He initiated the construction of Menri monastery buildings, established medicinal care, modern and traditional education for children, Dialectic School for the monastics, Bon Children´s home, Yungdrung Bon students committee in Varanasi, Ratna Menling nunnery, the congregation hall for lay practitioners, Yungdrung Bon library and medical college Sorig Bhumzhi, just to mention few. For many, especially within the Bon settlement in Dolanji, he was not only the head of the tradition and a teacher, but also like a father, looking after each individuals needs both in spiritual and practical level. He traveled to Tibet to preserve and support Bon monasteries within Tibet, bestowed many teachings and initiations worldwide and wrote number of works. It is due to his immeasurable kindness that the ancient Bon wisdom teachings have been kept alive and well trained teachers have transmitted these teachings to different parts of the world, for the benefit of innumerable people.
We attended all the important ceremonies after His Holiness´s passing away. In Bon tradition, death rituals are performed for at least 49 days, both for common and holy beings. Depending on financial conditions, the fire ritual in done in small, medium or extensive manner. It is considered to be very important and auspicious to perform the ritual either after one has passed away or even before at some point during one´s lifetime.
Food offerings in Menr
The extensive fire ritual takes usually many months or even years to prepare, but due to the engagement and help of numerous people, for His Holiness the ritual was prepared and performed in two weeks. Extensive offerings are made and burnt in the fire in order to pacify all beings. In general, the offerings are of five kinds; butter lamp-, food-, incense-, water- and flower- offering. Great Tsok offering to the innermost tantric deities and dakinis is performed as well. Sacred mantras are written on big and small wooden plates in gold and silver as well as different kinds of aspiration prayers.
Building stupa for extensive fire ritual
The holy body is cremated with the extensive fire ritual (tib. Kun Rig Le Zhi Gyun Nga) that was performed in Menri on 2nd October. The ritual is done to the aspect qualities of the fire deity; peaceful, wrathful, enriching and empowering. The ritual includes many rich details and is full of powerful symbolic features.
Holy Body is carried in special stupa
Three wooden plates representing the three bodies of enlightenment
Cremation fire
During 49 days, prayers to His Holiness were recited all day and night by monastic and lay practitioners. Every morning and evening, Offering Prayer to His Holiness was recited by the whole community in the courtyard of the monastery. The other prayers recited by the monastics include the prayers of the four cycles of the Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyud, Ma Gyud Gong Chod Nam Sum prayer, prayers to the lineage masters of A-trid, Nyen Gyud and Dzocgchen, the Zhi Khtro prayer to peaceful and wrathful deities and dakinis that was recited by a group of selected monks and Metog Chodpa (flower offering) ritual prayer as well as offering to the 1000 Buddhas.
Evening prayers
Menri Gompa at night during the rituals
The lay practitioners took vows to strenghten their practice especially during these 49 days by reciting mantras, prayers and performing different practices. Some people gave up eating meat for the 49 days period or even for the rest of their lives. The whole community from youngest to eldest was circumambulating around the main Gompa of the monastery and butter lamp offerings were made extensively every day.
Circumambulations around the main Gompa of Menri monastery
Making butter lamps
Butter lamp offering
Final part of the 49-day rituals took place on 4th November. Small tsa-tsas (statues) were made including sacred relics that were collected from the ashes of the holy body sometime earlier. The tsa-tsas were brought from His Holiness´s chamber to the main Gompa and distributed to everyone who were present at that time as well as to all Bon places outside and inside Tibet. The rituals were concluded on 5th November as Menri Ponlop Nyima Rinpoche bestowed initiation of all the Menri throne holder´s lineage, including His Holiness Menri Trizin Lungtok Tenpa`i Nyima Rinpoche.
Menri Ponlop rinpoche giving initiation
All these rituals are mainly done for purifying the afflictions and impure deeds of all beings, thus bringing more light to everyone and everywhere. Passing away of His Holiness felt like his last great gift to each one of us.
His Holiness Menri Trizin Lungtok Tenpa'i Nyima Rinpoche
The second and third trimester of the third year in Lishu will continue with Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyud Dzogchen-teachings. The application for the program is still open.
From September 2018 to June 2019 Lishu will offer a new program with possibilities for longer and shorter retreats. For more information, see www.lishu.org or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
