Exploration of Yungdrung Bon: Spring 2021 Session
9 Session Course with Geshe Tenzin Gelek
Thursdays 3/11/21 - 5/6/21, 6:15-7:30 PM
9 Session Course
$135 ($15/session) - Community
$180 ($20/session) - Sustainer
$225 ($25/session) - Supporter
This course will be recorded and available to view for one week following each session.
“Falling in the ocean of the suffering of cyclic existence from ignorance and confusion.
For the various sufferings of all the different sentient beings,
with knowledge, and the lamp of loving wisdom,
I teach the supreme path of liberation from suffering.”
This time you have gained a human body and entered the door of the precious teachings of the Enlightened Ones. If you wish to make this human existence meaningful, considering the important and main thing to be accomplished. Through lifetime to lifetime you have been suffering in cyclic existence, unable to be free from this, still remaining. Now, at this time, thoroughly study the profound texts of the teachings of the Enlightened Ones. You need to completely annihilate the root of suffering, abiding in the great bliss of attaining the stage of enlightenment.
Therefore, generally, to practice any of the doors of Bӧn of the Sutra, Tantra, and Dzogchen, the precious teaching of Yungdrung Bӧn, you first need the Lama. Without relying on the Lama there is no means of achieving enlightenment. Without the Lama’s elucidation, there are no precepts, transmissions, and oral instructions. Therefore, you must always rely on the Lama. Especially, for the system of practice of the unsurpassable Dzogchen.
First, the one who teaches the meaning of the words of transmission is the Lama. In the middle, the Lama is the one who blesses your mindstream. At the end, the meaning and experiencing of the view also depends on the Lama’s compassion. You need the proper knowledge and to do the special method of generating the realization of primordial wisdom, the practice of Lama’i Naljor, Union with the Lama.
Similarly, the practitioners’ three sicknesses (of wind, bile, and phlegm), three negative forces (of male, female, and lu serpents beings), and the three karmic traces and obscurations (the karmic traces and obscurations of previous lives, future lives, and the present life) all disturb practice and cause the mind and body not to function properly. The practice of purifying the foul breath needs to be done in order to expel all these illnesses and poisons so your mind can function properly.
Also, the practitioner must do the essential practice of the mind of enlightenment. This practice of generating the mind of enlightenment is the base of the practice of Yundrung Bӧn. If you do not generate the mind of enlightenment in your mind stream, then there is no aspect of the causal method of enlightenment, therefore, you cannot become enlightened. That is why it is a very important practice.
From the power of karma, all sentient beings have been circling through lifetime to lifetime experiencing suffering, and this experience creates karma and afflictive emotions. The root of suffering must be cut. The detailed presentation of the way karma is collected as karmic traces and the base of the collection must be precisely understood. Then, you must endeavour to cut the root of suffering and master the level of great bliss.
The traditions of the Sutra, Tantra, and Dzogchen each have their own system of views, and if you do not understand the differences, then it is like, for example, a person not knowing the target but shooting an arrow.
Accordingly, it is very important that the Sutra system tradition’s view of emptiness and the way it is established is to be understood. Also, the unsurpassable Dzogchen view of the indivisibility of clarity and emptiness and the way it is established is to
be understood.
When we practice, our bodies get sick and our minds get unsettled and do not function properly and so forth, and many inner and outer obstacles arise. By relying on the practice of Tsalung Thrulkhor, the yogic exercise of the channels and winds, the body is comfortable, the mind is calm, and we are free of illness. Opening the channel of awareness, the experience of bliss, clarity, non-conceptuality, and non-thought arises.
Here in cyclic existence, death follows birth and it is certain that you will die. From the text: “The conditions of death, and the place of death are uncertain. If you think seriously, you are like a corpse.” Thus it is said. One day, the connection of your mind and body will be cut, and it is certain it will become a corpse. Now, when you are alive, you need to prepare. Therefore, by relying on the profound instruction of the bardo, the intermediate state, it shows how to control the mind at the great time of death. Also, at the time of the bardo of dying, it shows the way the internal elements disintegrate and dissolve. Then, it shows how the external signs and internal visions arise. Finally, it shows how the consciousness collects in the All-Ground and dissolves, when it goes to the crown chakra, and all the secondary channels collect in the life-force channel, the blood and sperm/egg return in the heart, when the three descend, the external and internal signs of appearance, spreading, and near attainment, and so forth.
It is necessary and very important to train the mind with certainty in this great matter.
Now at this time, the subject of the practice is very important, and we need to think it is like a precious jewel. I invite students of any level who follow or are interested in the teachings and the way of practice of Yungdrung Bӧn to join.
Course Topic Schedule:
1. The practice of Lama’i Naljor, Union with the Lama
2. TheNine-Fold Purification Breathing Practice
3. Generating the Mind of Enlightenment
4. The way karma is accumulated as karmic traces and where it is stored.
5. The view of emptiness of the Sutra system and Dzogchen system and the crucial differences.
6-7. The five root wind thrulkhor yogic exercises of the Mother Tantra
8-9. The Bardo of Dying (The first bardo intermediate state)
Geshe Lungtok Tenzin Gelek practices and teaches Bon Religious Tradition. Geshe la has spent most of his life at Menri Monastery, since 7 years of age, learning the Bon tradition. HH 33rd Menri Trizin Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche taught Geshe la how to chant according to the Menri tradition. Geshe la was appointed to the high position of Chant Master or Tsok Chen Um Zed, to lead all the Menri monks proper tone and pronunciation. He held the position for 3 years. HH 33rd Menri Trizin Rinpoche also taught him Cham – the secret dance, and held the position of Dance Master for 6 years. HE Yongdzin Lopon Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche taught Geshe la the Bon Scriptures of Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen. Geshe la would memorize all root text of these scriptures. He also learned poetry, astrology, astronomy, Tibetan medicine, and methods for constructing mandalas and stupas. Geshe la taught Bon Mool Shastra (Bon root texts of Zhang-zhung) to students at Central University of Tibetan Studies, Varanasi, India for 14 years. Geshe la is dedicated to teaching and supporting the scriptures to all who are interested.
9 Session Class
$135 ($15/session) - Community
$180 ($20/session) - Sustainer
$225 ($25/session) - Supporter
It is the mission of the Boston Center for Contemplative Practice to provide balanced financial accessibility to our services. We believe that what we offer should be for everyone. We offer a 3-tiered, self-selecting pricing system for events and scholarships for our professional trainings classes.
"Sustainer" prices are general admission pricing, maintaining the center’s ability to meet costs for holding an event.
"Community" pricing is for those with limited income and access to resources.
”Supporter" pricing is for those who would like to support our ability to offer community pricing and improve the center.