February 20th 12pm-1pm Pacific Time (PT) ) on Zoom
February 20th 9pm-10pm Central European Time (CET) on Zoom
Join us is celebrating both the Buddha Tonpa Shenrab and Nyamme Sherab Gyaltsen’s birthdays. Buddha Tonpa Shenrab is the founder of the Yungdrung Bön tradition. Therefore, his birthday is one of the most important observances during the Tibetan year. It is said that merit and good fortune are multiplied during such holy days. This ceremony will begin with a short blessing service led by Chaphur Rinpoche and teaching on “The Life and Teachings of Buddha Tonpa Shenrap and Nyamme Sherab Gyaltsen“
Buddha Tonpa Shenrab
was the founder of the ancient Yungdrung Bön spiritual tradition. According to the Bön canon, he was born at the palace Barpo Sogye of Tazig Olmo Lungring, 18,000 years ago. His father was GyalBön Thodkar of the Mu clan and his mother Yochi Gyalzhedma. His teachings are called ‘Yung Drung Bön’ or ‘Eternal Bön’, and the practitioners of Bön are called ‘Bönpo’. The great Shenrab dedicated his whole life to the practice of Eternal Bön for the benefit of all beings. He gave instruction on the teachings of Eternal Bön for nearly five decades, showing the path of compassion to many beings. At the age of 82 he entered into nirvana. His death was a reminder to his followers that impermanence is true for all beings and phenomena.
Throughout all of Shenrab’s teachings, he tried to communicate with every being, showing them how to recognize their true nature and live within the present moment. The essence of his teachings shows us how to find our home within, and abide joyfully with the treasury of contentment that is our natural endowment. His teachings continue to inspire many beings throughout the centuries.
Nyamme Sherab Gyaltsen
was born in Tibet in 1356 and is considered to be a manifestation of Sherab Mawe Senge (the Wisdom Lion of Speech), the great liberator of the ages. He is sometimes referred to as the second Buddha of Bön. At age ten he was ordained a novice monk and at 31 became a fully ordained monk. After his monastery, Yeru Wensakha, was destroyed by a flood and landslides, he founded the first Menri Monastery in southern Tibet in 1405. He became the first Abbot of Menri where he unified all three Bon lineages: Doh (Sutra), Ngag (Tantra) and Dzogchen. Menri became the central monastery of Yungdrung Bön for centuries, until it was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution in 1959.
Nyamme Sherab Gyaltsen was especially venerated for his great achievements, realization and for his mastery of text, systems and rules. He was known as a great reformer and reinvigorated the Bönpo monastic tradition, allowing many monasteries to flourish. He was the first master to collect and hold all the transmissions and empowerments of all the Bön lineages. All these transmissions have continued to be held by each of the successive abbots of Menri to this day. He passed away in 1415.
Click here for handouts and Zoom link
Please RSVP early! In order to get the handouts and the Zoom link, please register by February 19th. We are unable to send materials at the last minute so please register early.
