Yungdrung Bön
Drop-In Practice & Discussion Group
|w/ Geshe Tenzin Gelek Rinpoche
via Zoom
Tuesdays 6p-7p EST
Suggested Donation $20/session
Join Geshe Tenzin Gelek Rinpoche for a weekly, drop-in, open discussion and practice group. These sessions will not have a planned topic for teaching or discussion. Instead, this will be an opportunity to ask questions to Rinpoche, check our understanding of the concepts from Bön teachings, and support one other in our practice as a sangha.
Rather than register for each and every session, please fill out the registration form one time if you would like to participate in this drop in group.
Once you’re on the participation list, you will be sent the recurring zoom link. Please make a donation each time that you participate via this Paypal LINK or Venmo @noel-coakley.
What is Yungdrung Bön?
Yungdrung Bön has rich traditions and sophisticated philosophy and teachings. These teachings and practices help to cultivate the heart-mind of compassion and wisdom. They promote healing, forgiveness, clarity, peace, and ultimately lead to enlightenment.
The founder of Bön is Tonpa Shenrab Miwo, who, according to Bön tradition, first brought the Bön teachings to what is now Western Tibet 18,000 years ago.
Yungdrung Bön can be categorized into three main sets of teachings. These three sets are known as the Outer, Inner, and Secret teachings (Sutra, Tantra, and Dzogchen.) Each of these sets of teachings is a complete system of spiritual development that can lead the practitioner to attain enlightenment. Yungdrung Bön practitioners may choose to practice one, or more, of these sets of teachings, based on their capacity of understanding and the suitability of the practice.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has acknowledged that Bön is the native religion of Tibet, and one of the five core spiritual traditions of Tibet. The Dalai Lama has further said that to understand Tibetan culture and history completely, one must understand Bön, and both support and preserve it. This acknowledgment confirms the role of Bön in the historical and current religious and political life of Tibetans.
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Geshe Gelek Rinpoche:
Geshe Lungtok Tenzin Gelek Rinpoche 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.