Bon Shen Ling

Upcoming Events

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 06:20:30 +0000

February 25: Losar – Tibetan New Year, New York, NY

March 3-4: Sangye Menlha (Medicine Buddha), Long Island, NY

March 17-18: Sangye Menlha (Medicine Buddha), Warsaw, Poland

March 24-25: Eight Medicine Buddha, Valfabbrica (Perugia), Italy

April 7-8: Five Chakras Healing, Lexington, KY

May 25-29: Luminous Body Retreat, West Cornwall, CT

August 15-19: Tsi Dup 5, West Cornwall, CT

Engaging the Life Force: Tsi Dup Yang Bod

Bon Shen Ling News — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 09:10:46 +0000

by Lumo Woekar and Menghak Rinchen Earlier in June of this year, 50 students in the US graduated from a three-year intensive training in an ancient Tibetan healing modality called Tsi Dup Yang Bod. This teaching comes from an unbroken Tibetan lineage in the Bon Tradition, which is the original indigenous spiritual tradition of Tibet; originating from the Zhang Zhung empire, which predates the Tibetan Kingdom by many centuries. The teaching comes from a 7th century manuscript written by Tsewang Rigdzin, son of the esteemed Bon scholar, Drenpa Namkha. In the past, shorter Yang Bod (Life Force) instructions have been given by other Lamas, but this particular body of instruction has never been given in an intensive and traditional manner.

Its foundation is based on compassion for all living beings, and the recognition that suffering and one’s mental and physical well being can be affected by many forms of obstacles which can be related to energetic imbalances.

It was taught by Geshe Chongtul Rinpoche, a Tulku in the Bon tradition, who now lives in the United States. Rinpoche has a foundation in the US called Bon Shen Ling, which is committed to the preservation of the Bon culture and its teachings. He believes the time is right for these traditional secret teachings to come to the West as the world experiences more personal, economic and environmental challenges; and believes this practice in particular can be of great benefit, not only to the practitioner, but also those in the service of helping others. The healing technique is also known as Bon Soul Healing and is based on the five elements, Fire, Water, Air, Earth and Space, which are represented within the body as well as the world around us. These elements inside the body are affected by stress, trauma, or karma, and as a result, a form of soul loss can occur. If not brought back into balance, this can lead to mental, emotional or physical complications, illness, or even death. The training is quite comprehensive and students are taught the ways of developing the five inner elements as five specific types of energy, each having its own individual characteristics, which can be tested. The practice then involves learning to channel each element or compassionate energy, based on where the soul loss has occurred relating to certain organs and disease points. The essence is that when the element or elements are returned to balance, the soul and life force which were fragmented return to wholeness and the energetic disturbance ceases. Components of these instructions also contain Trul Khor, divination, energetic exercises including mantra recitation, and meditation, to name a few. Students were required to make a serious commitment to the studies and trainings, which included Preliminary Practices (the accumulation of 900,000 mantras of nine practices), the memorization of the ritual and life force ceremonies, and teacher-required conventions. The empowerment ceremony was made all the more auspicious as His Holiness the 33rd Menri Gyalwa Trizin, Lungtok Tenpai Nyima the Supreme Head of the Bon tradition, came from India to initiate the students, and these practitioners received the title “Drup Shenpa” which means “healer” in this tradition. Practitioners who have completed this intensive will be listed on the Bön Shen Ling website, and should you wish to consult this type of ancient Tibetan healing you may find out more at www.bonshenling.org, including details about the next three-year study with Chongtul Rinpoche, which will be in 2012. Published in Snow Lion Magazine, Winter 2011: http://www.snowlionpub.com/pages/N93_16.html

Ancient Tibetan Healing Examined

Bon Shen Ling News — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:22:16 +0000

by Menghak Rinchen, PhD In the past couple of decades the influence of Eastern energetic healing modalities has been embraced by the West as a compliment to traditional therapy or an alternative method to the healing process. Many of these therapies such as Reiki or Jin Shin Jyutsu have seen widespread interest among practitioners, to the point of being accepted by mainstream institutions as an aid in the healing process. Mediation, Yoga, Tai Chi, Ayurvedic, and Qi Gong are methods that have also seen success and broad appeal. Their success and interest is the combination of a mind/body relationship that embraces the effort of being in physical, mental, and spiritual balance. Over the past decade, there has been a global interest in Tibetan medicine and the various systems it employs. Whether in pulse diagnosis, plant medicine, or advanced yoga methods, Tibetan approaches to well being have been examined and studied by Harvard Medical, John Hopkins, Cornell, and Duke, to name just a few. Asian scholars see the influence of Tibetan healing practices in Indian and Chinese medical systems, and this interest has led to a careful examination of the Tibetan methodology. But in looking at the Tibetan system, overwhelming evidence is surfacing that the Tibetans adopted many of these methods from an ancient neighboring kingdom known as Zhang Zhung. Whose influence had significant impact not only on their culture but their spirituality as well. Long before the Tibetan kingdom gained prominence in Asia, Tibet was part of the Zhang Zhung kingdom and adopted their philosophical system known as Bon. Within Bon we see the ancient Asian beginnings of Astrology, Herbal Medicine, Divination, and the close embrace of working with the elements and earth spirits. When we think of Tibet, we visualize an exotic land with the trappings of red monks robes, the hanging of prayer flags, and esoteric philosophical systems. All these cultural identities are from Bon, and that influence is why Tibetan Buddhism is far different than their Indian neighbor. Many, if not all the Tibetan healing systems go back to their Bon beginnings, and as we examine these, we come to view with great importance the Zhang Zhung connection to all of this. It has only been recently that Lamas from the Bon tradition have travelled to the West, which is the primary reason why our knowledge of this 18,000 year old system is new to us. In March of this year, one of the highest Lamas of the Bon Tradition will visit Claremont, CA to talk about the Bon tradition and host a 2 day Ancient Tibetan Healing retreat at the Claremont Forum. Tog Den Won Po Geshe Chongtul Rinpoche is one of only a small group of Lamas within the Bon tradition to have been trained in many of the healing therapies that originated in Zhang Zhung. He is a Tulku (re-incarnated teacher), who speaks English very well, and his teaching manner is engaging and spirited. This is an unprecedented opportunity to learn more about some of man’s earliest energetic healing modalities, directly from a teacher within an 18,000 year old Oral Tradition. His Claremont visit will engage students in a system that almost became forgotten, but nevertheless, survives to this day as a testament to how critically important this information is at this time. Seating is very limited and preregistration is required. Tog Den Won Po Geshe Chongtul Rinpoche will host a free to the public talk on Friday evening March 18th, and a 2 day Healing Retreat on March 19th & 20th. Interested students can register with Phyllis Douglass (909)-967-0246 or phyllis@soundbodyarts.com Published in Awareness Magazine, January/February 2011 Issue.

May 25-29: Golden Spoon Retreat, East Coast

bonshen2 — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:48:12 +0000

Once again we will be blessed by a visit to this country by His Holiness of Bon, Lungtok Tenpai Nyima of Menri Monastery. He is graciously offering us the Teaching of the Golden Spoon. Event Details

May 28: Tibetan Cultural Event, Esopus, NY

bonshen2 — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 08:46:54 +0000

On the last evening of the Golden Spoon retreat, we will host a Tibetan Cultural evening, featuring a traditional Tibetan dinner with His Holiness, an evening of Tibetan entertainment provided by the Tibetan community of New York, and a blessing by His Holiness. This special evening program will be held in a large tent set up on the spacious grounds of the Mount. We will be joined by the local Tibetan community. The Tibetan Cultural program is included in the retreat cost, however, you may register for just the Tibetan Cultural evening for those that cannot participate in the retreat, but still would like to spend time and receive a blessing from the 33rd Gyalwa Menri Trizin.

June 17-19: Golden Spoon, West Coast

bonshen2 — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 08:55:23 +0000

The Golden Spoon instructions are contained in the treasury of teachings known as, Dzogchen Sergyi Thur Ma. These concise and essential teachings are a powerful tool, and are important directions from the Zhang Zhung Nyan Gyud, the Oral Instructions that have been handed down through an unbroken lineage spanning centuries before the creation of the Tibetan Empire to our present day. The Gyalwa Menri Trizin, a Tulku and esteemed Bon scholar, will be joined in these teachings by Tog Den Won Po, Geshe Chongtul Rinpoche also a Tulku and the former teacher of His Holiness in his last incarnation. The significance of receiving these instructions from these two teachers should be recognized as an unbelievable moment for Bon in America, and could be viewed as a historic event. Event Details

Aug 18-24: Tse Dup Teacher Training, Esopus, NY

bonshen2 — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 08:58:27 +0000

Geshe Chongtul Rinpoche will teach the Principle Introduction of Self-Awareness, Sem Ngo Troe Pa. This seven day retreat will also focus on building the Tse Dup practice and accumulating the preliminary practices(Ngondro), which is the basic foundation of all Bon teachings.

I am happy to announce to our Drupshen pa and Drupshen ma that due to your continuous effort in the study of Tsedup, we are now on the fourth level of Tsedup Yang Bod soul healing teacher training.

“The fourth and fifth levels are part of the Tse Dup training and provide more extensive teacher training. They are required for one to be a Tsedup teacher. These levels address different methods of learning.

This year, during the fourth level, we will focus on:

Phowa practice
Taking Refuge vows, which means opening the spiritual path
Recognizing your own spiritual protector of the Bon lineage (Sungma)
Your special tutelary deities (Yidam) who have always been with you since your Bardo time, while you looked for a new life, your rebirth, and constantly take care of your spiritual journey and protect you from any obstacles.
Accumulation of the Preliminary Practices.

To this end, the daily retreat schedule will be:

7-8AM: Phowa practice in the gompa with the group.
9:30-10:30AM: One hour morning teaching.
11AM-12PM: Phowa practice in the gompa with the group
3-4PM: One hour evening teaching
5-6PM: Preliminary Practice
7-8PM: Phowa practice in the gompa with the group

The refuge vow rituals, Sungma and Yidam will occur only on the 6th day of the retreat.

Registration is open only to those students who have completed the first three years of Tsedup training. These students who wish to continue along this path of training may register online at www.bonshenling.org or by calling Paul in the Bon Shen Ling office. ( 646 524 7119 )

Cost:

995 for Single Room
900 for Double Room

To Register:

The Yung Drung Bon Teaching of Woe Nge Khor La

Bon Shen Ling News — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 09:30:58 +0000

Five Principles of Spiritual Power-Five Energies and Elements)

30^th and 31^st October 2010, Hanover College, Indiana by Laurie Hopkins For the second year in a row Geshe Chongtul Rinpoche returned to Hanover College in southern Indiana to bring the wisdom of Tibetan Bon teachings to that little corner of the universe. The Five Energies and Elements workshop was entitled, The Yung Drung Bon Teaching of “Woe Nge Khor Lo” (Five Principles of Spiritual Power Points). The coordinator of the October 30-31^st weekend teaching was Dr. Vicki Jenkins, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Hanover College, who has also been a student of Rinpoche’s for more than 3 years. In June of 2010, she graduated as a “Drup shenpa” of the Tsi Dup Yang Bod practice of Bon energy healing and she credits Chongtul Rinpoche and his teachings for helping her to open her consciousness to the expansive union of compassion and wisdom. Dr. Jenkins and the 16 students from her “Philosophy: Ethics and the Examined Life” course raised over $800.00 in their endeavor to sponsor a Tibetan Bon Refugee child for 1 year. Initially they cited a goal of fundraising $400.00. By doubling the targeted amount they were able to sponsor 2 recipients; a young boy and a college aged young woman, both living in the Ladakh area. The students employed various strategies and were even able to enlist the support of the owner of the local Papa John’s Pizza restaurant, who donated a percentage of the evening’s sale. Other Bon refuge children were sponsored over the course of the weekend by workshop attendees who made donations to the Bon Shen Ling and Bon Future Fund charities. Generosity was in the air but more importantly in the hearts of many workshop participants. Chongtul Rinpoche provided a richly textured teaching that not only addressed the philosophy and practices of the Five Energies and Elements but incorporated spontaneous topics of discussion as well. For those who were new to the Bon teachings, he offered specific instructions on mediation posturing of body and mind and demonstrated the proper way to make a bow of prostration, with a complete explanation of the symbolic significance of each aspect of the movement sequence. After presenting the 5 Energies and Elements rituals of chanting and visualization to reduce the 5 poisons from a sutric perspective, Rinpoche also offered tantric explanations for those students who were capable of working at that level. As always, he emphasized the crucial aspect of intentionality in all that one does when engaging in these Bon practices that have the potential for enabling one to open to the flow of universal energy. As one learns to access this universal energy in a transformative way, generating greater health and harmony for oneself, it thus enables one to become more available to work on behalf of others who need healing and ultimately for the benefit of all sentient beings. Rinpoche pointed out that very often pronounced areas of imbalance can be easier to heal than less obvious energetic poisons which typically remain hidden below the surface, but none-the-less exert an unhealthy influence on one’s thoughts and actions. He offered the simile of a wooden bowl that continues to give off the scent of garlic long after the chunks of garlic have been wiped away. Although the garlic appears to be gone, the scent has been absorbed into the surface and continues to give off a strong odor. So it goes for our deeply imbedded poisons of attachment, anger, jealousy, pride, and mental dullness, all of which have ignorance at their root according to the Bon teachings. In response to questions from the audience, Chongtul Rinpoche offered explanations of the Bon understanding of dakinis (sky walkers who can be both masculine and feminine), yogis, nagas (elemental spirits found in nature), Zhang Zhung creation stories, ransom rituals and soul retrieval, as well as explanations concerning some of the deities of the Bon lineage. He also clarified that being a monk or a lama, does not automatically imply that one is enlightened. Sometimes westerners will project such a misperception on a man or woman who comes from another culture and wears monastic clothing. Although the lama has a responsibility to be of support to others, it does not necessarily follow that they have achieved an enlightened state. This admonition was reminiscent of the message that Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche communicated in the 1970s, when he coined the term “spiritual materialism” to indicate the attachments and distortions that occur due to the perceived exotic nature of a person or philosophy being introduced in a new culture. Before Rinpoche concluded the workshop by offering the traditional blessing to participants who presented white katas, he discussed the extraordinary teaching event that has been scheduled for May and June 2011, when His Holiness of Bon, Tenpai Nyima, the 84 year old patriarch of Bon, will travel from Menri Monastery in Dolanji India to New York and then California to join Chongtul Rinpoche for a Dzochen transmission of the Golden Spoon teaching. Rinpoche shared that this is a very rare and auspicious opportunity for western practitioners and encouraged anyone who might be interested to check out the descriptions on the Bon Shen Ling web site. A word for the wise, “check it out”. Emaho! Laurie Hopkins was drawn to the truths of Tibetan religions in this lifetime, when she encountered the brilliant writings of the great dharma master, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in the early 1980s. Over the course of the last few years, she has committed to intensive studies with the Bon lama, Chongtul Rinpoche, her heart guru. She is currently focused on completing the requirements associated with her initiation into Tsi Dup Yang Bod healing practices. The 30 day journey spread out over 3 years (in 10 day segments) has proven profoundly transformative for Hopkins and has spoken to some of the deepest yearnings of the mystic in her soul. She currently resides in Upstate New York, working as an occupational therapist in a school for children with ASD. Energetic Rejuvenation E-Newsletter Vol.3 No. 10, January 2011. © Anton Baraschi.

Sangye Menhla (Medicine Tonpa) Retreat with Geshe Chongtul Rinpoche

Bon Shen Ling News — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 08:57:37 +0000

A Retreat Participant’s Perspective

23rd – 29th, September 2010, Compton Dundon, Somerset, UK

We asked Laurie Hopkins who attended the Indiana workshop with Chongtul Rinpoche last month (to be reviewed by L.H. in the next issue of ERN) to ask a few questions of one of the participants in the workshop from England, on behalf of the Energetic Rejuvenation Newsletter. Laurie interviewed fellow Yung Drung Bon drup shenpa, Elaine Nikischer, who had just returned from Chongtul Rinpoche’s 7 day Sangye Menlha (Medicine Tonpa/Buddha) teaching in Somerset, England. Elaine lives in Yonkers, N.Y. and works in the tri-state area as an energy healer using many modalities, including Tse Dup Yung Bod. Elaine is an afficinado of spiritual pilgrimages, having journeyed to the pyramids of Egypt and the Yucatan, as well as visiting India and Brazil to further her spiritual development. * LH. Elaine is this the first time you attended a teaching in England with Rinpoche? EN. This is my second teaching with Rinpoche in England, I traveled to Glastonbury last year to learn the Sherab Chamma (Loving Mother) practice. LH. How was this workshop different from the previous? EN. Both of the healing practices precipitated energetic shifts that have had a profound impact on my soul and work as a healer. However, the Sangye Menlha teaching addressed 8 chakras with their corresponding consciousnesses and wisdoms, and this was quite unique, my having only learned of the 5 chakra system in previous Bon studies. LH. Elaine, can you share some of the most significant impressions you had with us? EN. I began to feel an intense and constant flow of warm healing energy that was activated during Rinpoche’s teaching. Now that I am back at home, I have been surprised to find that I can access this energy at will. In all classes that Rinpoche teaches, I have observed that not only do students learn to dedicate the merit for the benefit of all the sentient beings, but they are also taught actual techniques for directing healing energies to others. LH. Elaine, who benefits in your opinion? EN. The Sangye Menlha practices can be of benefit to oneself and others in the event of illness as well as those in the process of dying or for those who have already transitioned. Up until this Medicine Tonpa teaching, I always found myself in the position of sending healing to others. This time however, by an auspicious coincidence, I wound up in the center of the circle, as a designated recipient of the healing energies that were being sent by others attending the workshop. LH. Oh Elaine, can you describe how you felt? EN. Laurie, the experience was amazingly intense and caused me to have sensations of transcending physical boundaries while melding with the healing energies radiating from Rinpoche and the participants in the circle around me. For the remainder of the course I felt a pronounced sense of rejuvenation with accompanying sensations of harmony, joy, and magnetic connectedness. I felt that many of the other attendees seemed to share this state of good will, unity and expanding heart consciousness. LH. Elaine, what are some of the practices you did? Can you describe them? A week is a long time…. EN. Over the 7 days of study, Rinpoche taught sacred chants of invocation, additional mantras, hand mudras, visualizations, prostrations to the deities and dakinis, and techniques for working with the chakras and pulses. The complex visualizations of Sangye Menlha, who is often depicted as a blue deity holding a yung drung in his right hand and a medicinal herb in his left hand, varied in color, form, direction invoked, and element involved, based on the specific issue requiring healing. Chongtul Rinpoche also shared some of the historical accounts of the origins of Sangye Menlha, who was actually a manifestation of Tonpa Shenrab, the first Buddha of Bon in this world, according to Bon cosmology. One night we created a special ceremony around a bonfire, where we made offering to the nagas by saying mantras and tossing incense into the flames. I’ve heard that the photographs show a shower of orbs around Rinpoche and our group. LH. Elaine, how did the teaching conclude? EN. At the end of the teaching Chongtul Rinpoche conferred the transmission, (a blessing that can only be provided by a genuine lineage holder which sanctions the official sharing of the teaching from the lineage through the teacher to the student Ed.), he recommended that the participants continue with the Sangye Menlha practice in order to deepen the healing abilities and potentials that had been activated. LH. Thank you Elaine for your comments, do you know of some of Rinpoche’s future plans? EN. We were told that in the months ahead Rinpoche is focusing on presenting 2 major Dzochen teachings with His Holiness of Bon, Luntok Tenpai Nyima, and the 84 year old beloved and esteemed leader of Bonpos world wide. He is also preparing a workshop to train the newly graduated Drup Shenpas (Healers) in the next level of study in their evolving Tse Dup Yung Bod practice. Final Note from LH: Rinpoche maintains a teaching and traveling schedule that whirls even when he “appears” to be at rest. One can only wonder if the precious Sangye Menlha teaching is on the horizon for those of us who live on this side of “The Pond”. Please join me in holding that intention, if Elaine’s descriptions resonated with what you long for or know to be true. Chongtul Rinpoche’s vision of shifting healing consciousness in the west is taking on a momentum of its own and these amazing Bon practices are “truth-keys” that are being placed in the hands of those fortunate enough to have the opportunity to hear them. Let us embrace the sacred responsibility that comes with being in the first wave of Rinpoche’s teachings in the west. Emaho! The Earth Spirit Center The retreat was held at the EarthSpirit Centre which is on the edge of the tiny village of Compton Dundon, just outside Glastonbury in Somerset. It is situated in a beautiful landscape next to two nature reserves and lies within the ‘temenos’ (sacred enclosure) of Avalon. The centre is a complex of seventeenth century farm buildings which have been restored and specially converted for use as a workshop and retreat venue. They are set within seven acres of fields and gardens. The buildings are based around a converted 52’ (15.5m) long barn, with oak timbers, reed torching (lining the inside of the roof) and stone walls. The feeling is medieval, but with modern comforts such as under-floor heating and a large wood stove. The high roof and skylights create a light, airy atmosphere. Organized by Karen Williams http://www.himalayanhealing.com/index.html Photos contributed by Karen Williams and Henry Tischler Retreat and Teaching Overview, published in Energetic Rejuvenation E-Newsletter Vol. 3 No. 9, September 2010 Copyright Anton Baraschi.

Rinpoche visits Hanover College

Bon Shen Ling News — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:34:49 +0000

For many, life has grown increasingly chaotic: balancing work and family, while having a little personal time, has become all too often difficult and filled with stress. But how do you alleviate it? Geshe Chongtul Rinpoche, a pre-eminent high Lama of the Tibetan Bön tradition, recently gave three presentations to a jam-packed lecture hall, focusing on healing and compassion for the world, and offering insight into such topics as stress relief, peace- ful and healthy energy, meditation, love and life stability. According to Rinpoche, one way to release stress was to through compassion energy and friendship. “All people need to be friends with each other,” he said during an interview. “Once (I) release the (fear) that people may harm me or give me trouble, once that goes away, the stress goes away.” Rinpoche added that the fear is in not knowing each other, in not knowing the group dynamic. He said that even though people appear trusting on the outside, they might fear others on the inside. During the first presentation, Rinpoche gave an overview of the Tibetan Bön tradition, highlighting his studies to be- come a geshe, the highest level attainable and comparable to a doctorate. He also touched on Dzogchen, considered the most defini- tive path to enlightenment, and its study of focusing the mind.

“If you can train your mind, you can see the source of the (stress),” he said the first evening. “The source comes from not understanding your mind. Once you do, you will have no suffering.”

Citing compassion as the ultimate energy of love in the Bön tradition, he added, “We need to extend that kind of love to all sentient beings.” To achieve this kind of compassion, Dzogchen teaches how to train the mind to focus on one point, even if people can’t completely erase all the talk in their minds.

“When you look into your mind, it looks like a monkey,” he added, speaking metaphorically.

Meditation features prominently in the process. Rinpoche practices this ancient ritual for at least one hour each morning as his schedule permits. “(With meditation) you are trying to calm down and once you do this, you have time and space to concern yourself with taking care of others. That is deep meditation.” In trying to dispel the stereotype, Rinpoche said medita- tion doesn’t require sitting in a small room, cross-legged. People should be comfortable, refreshed and not drowsy, he said, and be in fresh air if possible. Later in the week, Rinpoche came to Associate Professor of Philosophy Vicki Jenkins’ Philosophy and Ethics class where the students had raised more than $1,000 for Bon Shen Ling, Rinpoche’s charity that helps Tibetan refu- gees, primarily children, in India, Nepal, Tibet and other Mongolian community to get a good education.

“Children need financial support,” he said. “Many are orphans.” In addition to schooling, the organization pro- vides health care, dental care and shelter.

The money Jenkins’ class raised will sponsor two young women in India. The remaining funds will to a general fund and Menri Monastery, where Rinpoche first began his studies at age seven, and also to a fund for animals. Sounds like the students have caught on to Rinpoche’s lessons quickly.