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Yungdrung Bön, also called Drungmu Gyer in the ancient language of Tagzig and Zhang Zhung, has a rich tradition of sophisticated philosophy and teachings. These teachings and practices help to cultivate the heart-mind of compassion and wisdom. They promote healing, forgiveness, clarity, peace, and ultimately lead to enlightenment.
The founder of Bön is Tonpa Shenrab Miwo, who, according to Bön tradition, first brought the Bön teachings to what is now central Asia 18,000 years ago. Tonpa Shenrab was born in Tazig and lived in Zhang Zhung. Zhang Zhung means "Garuda Land." Tazig means "Land of the Tiger."
Yungdrung Bön can be categorized into three main sets of teachings. These three sets are known as the Outer, Inner, and Secret teachings (Sutra, Tantra, and Dzogchen.) Each of these sets of teachings is a complete system of spiritual development that can lead the practitioner to attain enlightenment. Yungdrung Bön practitioners may choose to practice one, or more, of these sets of teachings, based on their capacity of understanding and the suitability of the practice.
Three Pathways of Yungdrung Bön
Also known as Dho Ngag Sem Sum
Pong Lam Dho – Path of Renunciation (Sutra)
Gyur Lam Ngag – Path of Transformation (Tantra)
Drol Lam Dzogpo Chempo – Path of Self Liberation (Dzogchen)
In the Yungdrung Bön tradition, according three different paths of practice. A practitioner may move through them progressively by establishing ethical discipline through Dho, learning secret transformation practices through Ngag, and eventually resting in the direct recognition of awareness through Sem.
Each path honors the same goal: The full awakening of wisdom and compassion for the benefit of all beings.
The Path of Renunciation to Purify Defilements
The Dho path lays the essential foundation for all higher practices. It emphasizes:
Ethical discipline
Cultivating compassion and loving-kindness
Understanding causes and karma
Reflecting on impermanence and the nature of suffering
Training the mind through study, contemplation, and meditation
Pathway on how to renounce five poisons and over emotions
Ten Transcendental practice – par chin chu
Five paths Lam Ngag and ten stages of Earth ~ Sachu according to Pong Lam Dho
Zhi Ney ~ Grounding your concentration and emptiness according to Pong Lam Dho.
The Path of Transformation
Sangwa Ngag, the path of transformation and lineage transmission. Here, rather than renouncing difficult emotions, practitioners learn how to transform them into wisdom. The energies of anger, attachment, pride, jealousy, and ignorance become fuel for awakening. Ngag is powerful and direct, but it requires the ethical stability established through Dho. It emphasizes:
The principles of transformation
Deity visualization practices
Secret Recitations (Ngag; skt. Mantra) and ritual methods
Working skillfully with subtle energy
Sacred symbolism and Kyil Khor (Skt. Mandala).
The Path of Self-Liberation
The path of Sem, which is Dzogchen: The Great Perfection. This is the path of direct recognition of the mind’s true nature. Rather than gradually purifying or transforming, one learns to recognize awareness itself and allow thoughts to self-liberate. This is considered the most direct path. Yet it rests upon the stability cultivated in the first two paths.This path emphasizes:
The view of Dzogchen
Direct experiential instructions
Meditation in natural awareness
Integration of realization into daily life
The essential meaning of the Bön path: understanding the nature of emptiness, the law of karma and result, the power of compassion, and the practice of the perfections as a path of inner transformation. As sincere practitioners on the path, we learn, reflect, and deepen our connection with these four sacred teachings.
These essential points are not only philosophical ideas but also living instructions that can be applied in our daily life. By reflecting on emptiness, we learn to loosen our grasping and open our mind to the true nature of reality. By understanding karma and result, we become more mindful of our actions, words, and thoughts. Through compassion, we develop a warm and sincere heart toward all sentient beings. Through the perfections, we learn how to walk the path with generosity, discipline, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom.
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