Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BÖN MONASTERIES
As a result of the historical predominance of Buddhism in Tibet, the Bön religion has been
suppressed for centuries and has only recently started to attract the attention of schol-
ars. Many Tibetans remain quite ignorant of Bön beliefs and your guide might refuse to
even set foot in a Bön monastery. Yet Bön and Buddhism have influenced and interacted
with each other for centuries, exchanging texts, traditions and rituals. In the words of
Tibet scholar David Snellgrove, 'every Tibetan is a Bönpo at heart'.
To the casual observer it's often hard to differentiate between Bönpo and Buddhist
practice. Shared concepts include those of samsara, karma and rebirth in the six states
of existence. Even Bön monasteries, rituals and meditation practice are almost identical
to Buddhist versions.
Still, there are obvious differences. Bön has its own Kangyur, a canon made up of texts
translated from the Shang-Shung language, and Bönpos turn prayer wheels and circum-
ambulate monasteries anticlockwise. The main difference comes down to the source of
religious authority: Bönpos see the arrival of Buddhism as a catastrophe - the supplant-
ing of the truth by a false religion.
Bönpo iconography is unique. Tonpa Shenrab is the most common central image, and
is depicted as either a monk or a deity. He shares Sakyamuni's mudra(hand gesture) of
'enlightenment' but normally holds the Bön sceptre, which consists of two swastikas
joined together by a column. Other gods of Bönpo include Satrid Ergang, who holds a
swastika and mirror; Shenrab Wokar and his main emanation, Kuntu Zangpo, with a
hooklike wand; and Sangpo Bumptri.
Complementing these gods is a large number of local deities - these are potentially
harmful male spirits known as gekho(the protectors of Bön) and their female counter-
parts, drapla. Welchen Gekho is the king of the harmful gekho,and his consort Logbar
Tsame is the queen of the dralpa.
The Ten Meritorious Deeds in Buddhism are to refrain from killing, stealing, inappropriate
sexual activity, lying, gossiping, cursing, sowing discord, envy, malice and opinionated-
ness.
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