Bon
Bon (bon)
- A pre-Buddhist religion of Tibet, considered to have been of Iranian origin, and founded in Tibet by sTon-pa gShen-rab Mi-bo-che. The rituals and practices of Bon appear to have been transformed over many centuries of contact and interaction with Buddhism, but distinctive lineages, textual traditions and terminology have nonetheless been maintained. There are areas of Tibet, including Shangs, Kong-po, Teng-chen, rNga-ba, Khog-po, and Ja-dir, where Bon continues to be dominant at the present time. GD (from the Glossary to Tibetan Elemental Divination Paintings)
References
ka pi - 1) divine language in which the Bon history was compiled. 2) monkey [RY]
kun tu bon po - Bon deity (bon Counterpart of Samantabhadra). Syn {kun tu bzang mo yum}. shakti of {kun tu bon po} [RY]
kun tu bzang po - 1) the ever-excellent, all good, perfect, complete in all parts/ ways 2) ? dharmadhatu and dharmakaya 2. buddha 3. the adibuddha 4. a bodhisattva 5. in Bon = longs spyod rdzogs pa'i sku Samantabhadra, (6) Samantabhadra-naama-saadhana [one of the {chos bcu bzhi}-14 treatises on the Guhyasamaja commentaries by {sangs rgyas ye shes} (7) 1 of the 8 close spiritual sons of Buddha Shakyamuni [IW]
kun tu bzang po - 1) the ever-excellent, all good, perfect, complete in all parts/ ways 2) ? dharmadhatu and dharmakaya 2. buddha 3. the adibuddha 4. a bodhisattva 5. in Bon = longs spyod rdzogs pa'i sku Samantabhadra, (6) Samantabhadra-naama-saadhana [one of the {chos bcu bzhi} -14 treatises on the Guhyasamaja commentaries by {sangs rgyas ye shes} (7) 1 of the 8 close spiritual sons of Buddha Shakyamuni [IW]
klu bdud nag po - Black Naga's Devil; Bonnet Bell-flower (Lat. Codonopsis) [RY]
sku gshen - 1) in bon terminology dharmakaya; 2) respectful address to the great teacher of the Bon {gshen rabs mi bo} [IW]
sku gshen - respectful address to the great teacher of the Bon {gshen rabs mi bo} [RY]
sku sras brgyad- the eight spiritual sons of {gshen rabs mi bo} (the great teacher of the Bon). 1) {mu chos}. 2) {'ol drug thang po}. 3){dpyad bu gyi shing}. 4){lung 'dren}. 5) {gto bu bum sangs}. 6) {brgyud 'dren}. 7) {kong tsha dkar po}. 8) {kong tsha 'phul bu chung} [RY]
kham chung - 1) morsel, fragment; 2) Middle Length Prajnaparamita in 25,000 Shlokas as translated into Bon [IW]
kham chen - the extensive prajnaparamita as translated into Bon [IW]
mkhar chen brag dkar - 1 of 37 sacred Bon places, 1 of gnas sum cu so bdun [JV]
'khro rgyud - literary cycle of Bonpo tradition [JV]
gal mdo tshad ma - Bon text of Dzogchen logic [JV]
gyer pa - to have strayed [into], bon du gyer - has strayed into Bon; to chant [RY]
dga' ba don sgrub - Bonpo deity connected with the blue light [JV]
dge lha gar phyug - Bonpo deity connected with the green light [JV]
mgon btsun phya'i grong khyer - a city in the Bon paradise [JV]
rgyab - 1) back, behind, after; 2) dngos rigs do po gnyis [Khal rgyab,...Bong rgyab,...Bal rgyab,...Drel rgyab gsum]; 3) snye sa dang rten sa [Nyam chung gis rten sa'i rgyab 'cha' ba,...Bden pa'i rgyab drang pos byed pa] [IW]
rgyal ba thod dkar - name of founder of Bonpo tradition [JV]
rgyu'i bon - Bon of Cause, four Bon of the cause (phywa gshen theg pa, snang gshen theg pa, 'phrul gshen theg pa, srid gshen theg pa) [JV]
sgrub gshen - [a kind of] Bon religion [IW]
bsgrags pa skor gsum - Bon text [JV]
cang - 1) comp cang po smart, clever, intelligent; 2) any/ no, anything [whatever], everything; 3) Chiang Kai Shek; 4) Bon instrument gshang; 5) thick sauce made from beans, flour, etc [IW]
chab dkar - the White River [school of Bon] [RY]
chab dkar - White Waters (class of Bonpo scriptures, texts and practices of rgyud), SA sgo bzhi mdzod lnga, White Waters, 1 of bon sgo bzhi [JV]
chab dkar drag po sngags kyi bon - Bon of White Water of Wrathful Mantras [JV]
chab nag - black bon tradition, monastery in kong po, Black Waters (class of Bonpo scriptures, magical rites, funeral ceremonies, various divination rituals), SA sgo bzhi mdzod lnga, Black Waters, 1 of bon sgo bzhi [JV]
chab nag srid pa rgyud kyi bon - Bon of Black Water of Tantras of Existence [JV]
chings dang log non gyi 'khor lo - Wheel of Bonds and Suppression. Text belonging to the Sadhana Section of Mahayoga composed by Guru Rinpoche [RY]
che drag ngos med - Bonpo deity connected with the red light [JV]
gnyan bon - Bon of the Nyen [JV]
ti rtse - Ti SE Mt. [N of Himalayas nearLake Manasrowarht 22,300 ft beyond the N flanks lives Virudhaka guardian king of the W. Site of contest between Milarepa and a Bon priest [IW]
gter dgu - nine oceans of Bon (pad ma can, dung can, pad ma chen po, chu srin can, rus sbal can, rnga can, dga' ba can, sngon po, 'dzin byed) [JV]
rtags gzigs - region in which Bonpos place the origin of their doctrines (Tazikistan) [JV]
thugs kyi lha - Bonpo deity of mind [JV]
theg pa rim dgu - 9 ways of Bon, nine successive vehicles to enlightenment [JV]
theg pa rim dgu'i bon - Nine Ways of Bon [JV]
dur sgo - Bon gshin po'i dur sgo 'gog byed kyi liturgy [IW]
'dur bon - class of bon who practice necromancy, Bon of the Dur rites [JV]
'dus pa rin po che'i rgyud gzer mig - Bon text [JV]
lde'u 'phrul - pebbles, system of divination widespread in ancient Bon, "manifestation of knowledge", SA mo, phywa mo [JV]
nang rig pa'i bon sde gsum - the three inner divisions of Bon [IW]
nang rig pa'i bon sde gsum - the three inner divisions of Bon [drag po'i klu 'bum nag po two 'dul ba'i klu 'bum khra bo three gsang ba'i klu 'bum dkar po D] [IW]
gnam bon - Bon of the Sky [JV]
po en - Bonn [IW]
dpa' bo chen po - 1) great daka/ hero; 2) med. herb; 1) root, = shing glang chen chig thub, bitter, astringent, cooling, clearing dug nad and tshad rigs] 2) Bong nga nag po, med. herb [IW]
dpon gsas man ngag lung gyi bon - Bon of the Oral Guidance and Secret Instructions of the Master Sage [JV]
'phan yul - texts and practices connected with monastic religion, SA sgo bzhi mdzod lnga, Portal of Ransom by Equal Exchange, class of Bonpo scripture, 1 of bon sgo bzhi, maybe the 'phan po valley in central Tibet [JV]
'phan yul rgyas pa 'bum gyi bon - Bon of the Hundred Thousand Verse Sutra of the Land of Phan [JV]
'phrul gshen bal mtshon can - having Trulshen's wool symbols * Bon ceremony w throwing thread crosses and tormas] [IW]
ban dhe - a Buddhist priest, a Bon priest [RY]
bar du bsgyur bon - mixed translation B"n[pos] [In the 8th century the Bonpo rgya bo byang chub having produced a Kanjur of the buddhist dharma mixed it with bon] [IW]
bong rtag - Bongtak, in Domey [RY]
bon - Bön [shamanism]; Bon, Pön. Pon. The native religion of Tibet, according to Tibetan Buddhists. It was first promulgated in Shangshung (zhang zhung), an ancient name of the province of Gugey in western Tibet, west of lake Manasarovar [RY]
bon gyi chos - the Bon religion, teachings [RY]
bon sgo bzhi mdzod lnga - Four Bon Portals and the Fifth the Treasury [JV]
bon po - Bönpo. Bonpo. The religion prevalent in Tibet before the establishment of Buddhism in the 9th Century [RY]
bon gshos - Bon of Offerings [JV]
bon gsar lugs - the new Bon tradition [RY]
bya ba gtsang spyod ye bon gyi theg pa - Way of the Primordial Bon of Pure Conduct and Ritual Activity [JV]
'bras bu'i bon - Bon of the Fruit, five Bon of the fruit (dge bsnyen theg pa, drang srong theg pa, a dkar theg pa, ye gshen theg pa, yang rtse bla med theg pa) [JV]
'bras bu'i bon - fruition B"n [a particular tradition of Bon of the Tibetan prince de gung rgyal skabs dar ba'i, which supplicates for the arising of merit in later lives] [IW]
'brig mtshams mtha' dkar - Bon text [JV]
man da ra ba me tog - Mandarava. Princess of Zahor and close disciple of Guru Rinpoche. One of his five main consorts. Her name refers to the coral tree, Erythrina Indica, one of the five trees of paradise, which has brilliant scarlet flowers. She is said to be identical with the dakini Niguma and the yogini by the name Adorned with Human Bone Ornaments. In The Precious Garland of Lapis Lazuli, Jamgön Kongtrül says, "Born as the daughter of Vihardhara, the king of Zahor, and Queen Mohauki accompanied by miraculous signs, (and because of her great beauty), many kings from India and China vied to take her as their bride. Nevertheless, she had an unshakable renunciation and entered the gate of the Dharma. Padmasambhava perceived that she was to be his disciple and accepted her as his spiritual consort, but the king, fearing that his bloodline would be contaminated, had the master burned alive. When Padmasambhava showed the miracle of transforming the mass of fire into a lake, the king gained faith and without hesitation offered his entire kingdom and the princess. When the king requested teachings, Padmasambhava showered upon twenty-one disciples the great rain of the Dharma by transmitting the tantras, scriptures and oral instructions of Kadü Chökyi Gyamtso, the Dharma Ocean Embodying All Teachings. Thus, the master established the king and his ministers on the vidyadhara levels. Guru Rinpoche accepted her as his consort and in Maratika, the Cave of Bringing Death to and End, both master and consort displayed the manner of achieving the unified vajra body on the vidyadhara level of life mastery. Mandarava remained in India and has directly and indirectly brought a tremendous benefit to beings. In Tibet, she appeared miraculously at the great Dharma Wheel of Tramdruk where she exchanged symbolic praises and replies with Guru Rinpoche. The details of this are recorded extensively in the Padma Katang. An independent life story of Mandarava is found in the collected writings of Orgyen Lingpa. Mandarava was a wisdom dakini among whose different names and manifestations are counted the yogini Adorned with Human Bone Ornaments, (Mirükyi Gyenchen), at the time of Lord Marpa, Risülkyi Naljorma at the time of Nyen Lotsawa, and Drubpey Gyalmo at the time of Rechungpa. Mandarava is also accepted as being Chushingi Nyemachen, the consort of Maitripa, as well as the dakini Niguma. Her compassionate emanations and her blessings are beyond any doubt and since she attained the indestructible rainbow body she is surely present (in the world) right now." [RY]
mun pa bzhi - (four in Bon are ma rig pa, 'khor ba, dbang po'i sgo, ri grib) [JV]
me ri - mountain of flames, volcano, fire mountain, cycle of Bonpo scripture [JV]
sman ri - a Bonpo monastery in Tibet [JV]
gtsang mtho thog spyi rgyug mdzod kyi bon - Bon of the Treasury which is Highest and All-Embracing, bon of treasury of the all embracing pure summit [JV]
gtsang smyon he ru ka rus pa'i rgyan can - 1452-1507 - Tsang Nyön Heruka, the Mad Yogi of Tsang Bedecked with Bones, a great Kagyü yogi and the author of Milarepa's biography [RY]
mdzod - entreat, help, treasury, store, depositor, treasure chest, abhidharmakosa, do, SA mdzad pa, depot, reservoir, the Fifth Series of Bon, the Treasury [JV]
rdzogs sku - Body of perfection, perfected dimension in Bonpo ontology, perfection Body [JV]
rdzogs pa rin chen gser gyi phreng ba - {rdzogs pa rin chen gser gyi phreng ba} [Bon textbon gyi lta ba ston pa'i gzhung zhig [IW]
za lung- za lung [Bon place in gtsang stod [IW]
ya stags - Bon mdos glud dam gto mdos kyi rdzas [IW]
yas stags - in Bon ransom torma cha zhig given as food to lha and 'dre [IW]
yas thags - in Bon ransom torma cha zhig given as food to lha and 'dre [IW]
ye mkhyen - 1) primordially known, wisdom; 2) Bon deity {ye mkhyen}; 3) astr [IW]
ye ga shen - Bon primordial sage [IW]
ye gshen - bon convention similar to buddha, Bon primordial sage [IW]
ye gshen bkod pa don gyi 'bum - Bon practice cycle textual tradition [IW]
g.yung drung bon - Everlasting Bon [JV]
g.yung drung bon theg pa rim dgu - Nine Ways of Everlasting Bon [JV]
ra kyal - goat skin bag{ra la gyung drung gling - {ra la gyung drung gling} Bon Monastery [IW]
ra la gyung drung gling - {ra la gyung drung gling} [Bon Monastery [very old, in rin spungs rdzong] [IW]
rang stobs gshen rabs - Bon pratyekabuddha [IW]
ring brgyud - temporal historical transmission, long lineage, system of Bonpo transmission, long transmission of zhang zhung oral tradition [JV] [[ legs bshad mdzod]] - basic text of Bonpo historiography [JV]
shar rdza bkra shis rgyal mtshan - Bonpo Master Shardza Rinpoche [JV]
shes pa bcu gnyis - 12 lores or sciences of Bon, SA mgon shes lha bon, g.yang shes phywa bon, 'gro shes glud gtong, 'dur shes srid gshen, gtsang shes sel 'debs, 'grol shes gtad byad, phan shes sman dpyad, skos shes rtsis mkhan, smrang shes gto dgu, lding shes sha ba, 'phur shes ju thig, sgrol shes 'phrul bon [JV]
gshen - sacrificer, ancient family of tibet, often used in Bon literature as a synonym of bon po, SA phywa gshen, srid gshen, snang gshen, 'phrul gshen [JV]
gshen rab - Shenrab / - (1) according to the Bon tradition, the founder of the Bon religion. (2) founder of Bon religion, came from western Tibet [RY]
gshen rabs - founder of the Bon religion [RY]
se bon - se Bon school [IW]
srid pa'i mdzod phug - text which expounds principles of Bon cosmogony and metaphysics, Treasure of Existence, text on bon cosmogony & metaphysics, Treasury of the Origin of Existence [JV]
gsal ba rang byung - Bonpo deity connected with the yellow light [JV]
lha bon sgo bzhi - Four Series of Divine Bon, SA dpon gsas, chab nag, chab dkar, bon sgo bzhi [JV]
lha'i chos lugs - religion of the gods, Bon [JV]