Shenten Academy Lecture: Basics of Bön Philosophy Part 1

with Tulku Pönse Jigme Tenzin​​​

This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of the Yungdrung Bön tradition. It comprises several mutually supportive philosophical disciplines of the Bön tradition: phenomenology or düdra (bsdus grwa; describing the empirical world as we experience it), epistemology and typologies of mind or tsema (tshad ma; analysing how we know), and ontology (dealing with the question of what is real).

The course consists of 10 lectures.

Topics covered include: the nature and scope of our suffering, the concept of impermanence, the scope and motives of philosophical analysis, the ramifications of our prevailing but indiscernible ignorance and its role in conditioning our existence, the dynamic cognitive and behavioural patterns of repetition (karma) that govern and determine our continued existence, the 12 links of interdependent arising, and the status of the empirical world and objects.

The course will address questions such as: Why is there so much dissatisfaction in our lives? What are the underlying recurring tendencies that keep us trapped in repetitive patterns of suffering? Is there a self that governs my body and mind? If not, how can we account for causation and continuity? Is the empirical world something given, or is it something constructed? Are we even capable of knowing anything at all?

Schedule

The course consists of 10 lectures, one hour each, once a week, always on Sundays. It starts on 03.11.2024. There will be no lectures on 22.12. 2024 and 29.12.2024. Tulku Pönse Jigme Tenzin will teach the first three dates from Nepal and the rest of the dates from Mexico. That is why the courses start at different times (see below)

November 03, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. EST/3 p.m. CET
November 10, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. EST/3 p.m. CET
November 17, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. EST/3 p.m. CET
November 24, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. EST/3 p.m. CET
December 01, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. EST/5 p.m. CET
December 08, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. EST/5 p.m. CET
December 15, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. EST/5 p.m. CET
January 05, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. EST/5 p.m. CET
January 12, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. EST/5 p.m. CET
January 19, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. EST/5 p.m. CET

Recordings

All courses are recorded. The recordings will be made available to participants.

Costs and payment

Payments to be made via PayPal when registering for this event. For those who do not wish or cannot pay via PayPal, we recommend using a friend’s account. In any case, please provide your own email address when registering to receive the link for the event.

If you do not have the option to use PayPal, please contact us at contact@shenten.org. We will send you the details to pay by bank transfer and register you manually after your payment.

If you are currently having financial difficulties but would still like to attend the seminar, please write to contact@shenten.org

Biography

Tulku Pönse Yigme Tenzin – born as Jorge René Valles Sandoval on 17 August 1996 in Chihuahua, Mexico – is known to be the reincarnation of the Bön master Yongdzin Sangye Tenzin Rinpoche (1917-1978), who served as Lopon of Menri Monastery, the main monastery of the Yundrung Bön tradition.

From early childhood, H.H. Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, the 33rd Menri Trizin, appointed several teachers who came to Mexico regularly to teach the young Tulku. When he was six years old, he began to learn the basics of the Tibetan language, how to read and write both Tibetan scriptures (Uchen and Ume).

In the following years, the Tulku regularly visited Triten Norbutse and Menri monasteries, staying for 1-2 months each year to learn about Tibetan culture and to improve his Tibetan language by reciting the texts over and over again.

At the age of 12, he spent a whole year at Menri Monastery. This was the first time he had been away from his parents in the monastery and lived with the monks. During this time he had 5 main classes: reading comprehension, recitation, Tibetan grammar and spelling, Tibetan writing and ritual classes along with meditation. 

The main purpose of this was to gain a deeper knowledge of the Tibetan language, along with the Bön tradition, its teachings, rituals, philosophy and so on.

After spending a full year in Menri, the Tulku returned to Mexico to continue his western studies. H.H. also appointed a teacher to go to Mexico and spend time there teaching the Tulku the Tibetan language and Bön philosophy.

After completing his 12th year of western studies, he went to Lishu Institute in India to deepen his knowledge of Bön philosophy and Tibetan language. A few months later he returned to Mexico to attend the University College, where he began his studies in Financial Administration. After 2 years of concentrating on his western studies, the Tulku decided to spend 3 years in India to fully develop his knowledge of the Tibetan language. He attended the Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translation Programme in Dharamshala, India, and spent 2 years developing his knowledge of the Tibetan language. The first year included: grammar, spelling, reading, writing, listening comprehension and conversation classes. The second year was more focused on Buddhist philosophy, where he learned philosophy, logic, Tibetan debate, epistemology, and the study of typologies of mind and consciousness. When his classes ended, he continued to study on his own every day, reading Tibetan grammar books along with several Bonpo texts focusing on Dzogchen. He also continued to deepen his meditation practice, doing various practices that focused not only on Dzogchen, but also on Tantra and Sutra meditation and visualisation. After completing his studies in India, the Tulku went to Triten Norbutse Monastery in Nepal and spent 6 months concentrating on learning Bonpo philosophy. There he had three classes: epistemology and dialectics, the study of a very important text written by Nyame Sherab Gyaltsen – the first abbot of Menri Monastery – called ’Paths and Grounds’ (Salam in Tibetan) which focuses on Madhyamaka philosophy, and the study of a Dzogchen text from the Atri tradition. After spending 6 months in the monastery, the Tulku returned to Mexico to complete his western studies. After 2 years he finished his studies in Financial Administration. He is currently studying at the Triten Norbutse Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal, continuing his training in Bonpo philosophy, psychology and meditation, and working on translating Tibetan texts into English and Spanish.