Yungdrung Bon

YUNGDRUNG BON

A collection of texts belonging to the native Bon Tradition of Tibet.

BACKGROUND

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BON TRADITION

The eighth teacher Buddha Shenrab Miwoche turned the wheel of dharma three times and showed the 84,000 ways of the Bon religion.

History of Yungdrung Bon

The eighth teacher Buddha Shenrab Miwoche founded the Bon Religion with twelve major deeds, including the development of the Bon religion to transform sentient beings depending on the potential of disciples, teach the goshi (Four dharma aggregates), dZod Nga (Five treasures), lung thegpa rimpa gu (Nine yanas), turning the wheel of dharma three times and 84,000 ways of the Bon religion. After Shenrab Miwoche passed away, six world dignified translators stayed in their own regions and translated the Bon religion into their own languages and helped to spread the religion greatly. Thirteen masters and apprentices divided the 84,000 ways including the Mucho Demdrug teachings into four major divisions, namely the Sutra, Prajna, Tantra, and Treasury and created many commentaries.

It is said that the Bon religion was passed on to Tibet by Master Mushe Nangwa Dogchen. The great scholar translated the Yung Drung Zhang Zhung Mar language of the Zhang Zhung Gophug area into the Tibetan language which enabled the activities of debating, teaching and writing the Bon religion to flourish in the snow-covered Tibet. 

In addition, there were 24 people who achieved the rainbow body, 80 vidyadhara, 9 people with magical powers and 37 practice centers of the Bon religion so this lineage made great development.

When the Bon masters understood that there would be a time for development in the future, they buried many termas, and later they were taken out by the tertons. More than 100 tertons appeared in order to take out the termas. Therefore, the post-Bon period developed when the termas were retrieved .

Bon practitioners are all over Tibet, especially the eighteen masters from Druchen Namkha Yungdrung to Rinchen Lodro vigorously promoted the Bon religion through teaching, debating and writing up to today.

English