Bonpo & Nine Yanas (黑教九乘)

 

 

The above is a picture of a Bonpo priest wearing tiger skin ritual hat while holding ritual implements.

 

 

 

Someone asked me a question: Is Bonpo belonged to Tibetan Buddhism?

 

Without quoting to academic references, generally Bon is the early religion of Tibet; the main activity is to worship natural phenomena similar to any other primitive religions on the world. This is a total deviation from the teaching of Buddha proper.

 

It is believed that the origin of Bonpo lineage can be traced to Buddha Tonpa Shenrab. The main deity of Bon is Kuntu Zangpo. This deity rides on a peacock and he is also revered as the Dharmakaya and the supreme creator.

 

As with the Tibetan Ningmapa, the Bon also follows the “nine yana” system. The Bon nine yana can be subdivided into the “Cause Yana” and “Result Yana”.

 

First, the Cause Yana (因乘):

 

1.      Phya gshen theg pa (皮哇乘)

a.       This is said to be taught by two Dakinis, inclusive are the 360 worship rituals and 84,000 observation methods.

2.      Snang gshen theg pa (南乘)

a.       This is said to be taught by protector spirits: inclusive are the 4 meditation methods, 42 cursing method and 8 types of praying methods. The purpose of this yana is to foster human and spirit communications, curing of sickness and blessing ceremonies.

3.      Srid gshen theg pa (呼嚕乘)

a.       This yana is taught by Bonpo priests, inclusive are the 6 convenience methods and 13 outstanding rituals, including fire invulnerability and other illusions.

4.      Vphrul gshen theg pa (世間乘)

a.       This yana is also taught by Bonpo priests, inclusive are the 360 funeral rituals, 4 methods of buriel services and 81 methods of subjugating ghosts.

 

The Result Yana (果乘):

 

1.      Dge bsnyen gyi theg pa (行善乘)

a.       This yana is said to be taught by one of the Bonpo deities, inclusive are the deliverance of sentient beings, but the practitioner must kill 108 lives as killing is also a method of delivering souls.

2.      Drang Srong gi theg pa (隱士乘)

a.       This yana is intended for the hermits, inclusive are 10 breathing methods and fasting methods.

3.      A skad bdud vdul gyi theg pa (白乘)

a.       This yana is about some Buddhist rituals. It is also called the ‘white’ yana.

4.      Ye gshen gyi theg pa (義乘)

a.       Inclusive within this yana is the 84 methods of meditation, 60 types of taboos and 4 Vipassana methods.

5.      Blamed kyi theg dbyermed (圓滿乘)

a.       This yana is also called the “great perfection”.

 

I included some Bonpo discussions here because there are so many people talk about Bonpo now a days, but it may even be the case that a person call himself a Bonpo master but do not know the proper practice of Bonpo lineage.