In the Bon tradition, spiritual stories are a traditional form of teaching. They inspire devotees and practitioners to develop and strengthen their faith in dharma teaching. Join Lishu Institute teachers Geshe Sherap Lodoe and Dr. Sangmo Yangri in December and January on Zoom for their second season of stories from the Bon tradition.
The stories will be told in Tibetan by Geshe Sherap Lodoe and translated into English by Dr. Sangmo Yangri. Translation from English into other language is being planned. The event is being hosted by Ligmincha Europe sanghas and Lishu Institute in India. Registration is for all three parts, including recordings.
Story 1 (Dec 19, 2021): The History of Menri Monastery
Nyamme Sherab Gyaltsen, (1356-1416) was one of the main abbots of Yeru Wensakha Monastery. He made a promise to his mother that he would come one day to meet her before her death. During his visit to his mother in 1386, the monastery was destroyed by floods. During his meditation practice, he had a vision of Yeshe Walmo, who prophesized that he would find precious objects from the monastery on the banks of a river and nearby land. She encouraged him to build Menri Monastery in the Tsang province in Tibet and prophesized that he would help the Yungdrung Bon teachings grow and prosper. In 1409, he established Menri Monastery, which became the main monastery of Yungdrung Bon tradition.
Story 2 (Jan 2, 2022): Khyungtrul Rinpoche
Khyungtrul Jigmed Namkha Dorje (1897-1955) was one of the great masters of Bon tradition in 20th century and a contemporary of Shardza Rinpoche. He was popularly known as Khyungtrul Rinpoche. He reestablished the Bon teachings in Nagri region of western Tibet during the critical time when the teachings and its followers were regarded as inferior and badly treated by the people there due to the influence of wrong view about the Bon teachings. He was the first master among the Bon and Buddhist tradition in 20th century who used technology to print important texts. At the end of his life, while giving instructions to his disciples, he consciously left his body and remained in a state of thukdam (meditative state) for 49 days. Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche is regarded as his reincarnation.
Story 3 (Jan 9, 2022): Gang Ti-Se Rinpoche (the holy Mountain Gang-Rinpoche/Mount Kailash)
Gang Rinpoche, also called Gang Ti-Se in Zhang-Zhung terminology, means god of water. It also is described as crystal mountain with a shape of Yungdrung Kod-Leg stupa.This is the holy mountain that represents the great power and life force energy of Gekod Sangwa Drakchen, the inner tantric deity who is the manifestation of the enlightened quality of Buddha Tonpa Shenrap Miwo. According to many important Bon texts, it is regarded as the birthplace of Buddha Tonpa Shenrap and the place of origin of Bon teaching. Drenpa Namkha, Tsewang Rigzin, Tapihritsa, Nangzher Lopo and many more great practitioners of Zhang-Zhung masters practiced near the location of Gang Rinpoche.The sacred mountain is abundant with auspicious qualities.