How to Receive an Oral Transmission

What is an Oral Transmission

And oral transmission is called a "lung" in Tibetan. Lung is one of the three modes of transmission of the teachings in Yungdrung Bön alongside "wang" or empowerment and "tri" or instructions. Wang is the rite of initiation or empowerment while lung gives the recipient the transmission of the teachings and the authorization to access it. Tri is the actual didactic instruction on how to meditate or practice.

During the lung ceremony, the text is read through in its entirety very quickly to create a mind to mind, heart to heart transmission.

It is said during the early times, after the Buddha’s teachings were written down, the texts were read out as lung to pass on the blessings of the transmission and to also preserve the original teachings. The purpose of lung was primarily to preserve these authentic teachings. Giving lung largely referred to a didactic process of passing down the original teachings word for word. Thus lung referred to this process of passing down the authentic lineage teachings and authority from the teacher to the student.

Today, the lung practice in Yungdrung Bon is a mind to mind transmission of the teachings rather than an actual didactic transmission of its purport and message. The teacher who gives the lung transmission reads the text very swiftly and loudly and the audience listens to the reading. Neither party makes any effort to explain or understand the purport of the text during the lung ceremony. Often the lung ceremony may come at the end of months or even years of actual didactic study and practice on the instructions in the text.

The lung reading ceremony is said to formally allow a person to read and study the text and also pass down the transmission lineage to others. Bonpos believe in the power of such reading as a formal process of authorization and transmission of its blessings and impact.

How to receive an Oral Transmission

When receiving an oral transmission the most important first step is to generate bodhichitta motivation. Before the transmission begins, generate bodhichitta motivation. Bodhichitta motivation has two types; for ourselves and for all sentient beings. The purpose of all the teachings of sutra, tantra, and dzogchen – the reason we aspire to Buddhahood – is more than just to end our own suffering. Yes, of course we want to end our own suffering, but we also recognize that all sentient beings suffer just like me. They all suffer through birth, aging, sickness, and death in samsara – cycling again and again. Now I have the good fortune to be born in a human life. And with that comes a responsibility to awaken for the benefit of all these sentient beings. This is our motivation. We consider all our mother sentient beings. As a human with a deep connection to the teachings, with some knowledge of the teachings, we now have the ability no matter how small to help end the suffering of sentient beings. 

By means of listening to this oral transmission may I attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Along with this one must also possess firm faith and devotion – perceiving the teacher giving the transmission as the actual Buddha. But what does this mean? This is not about worshiping the “personality” of your specific teacher giving the transmission. What this means is to recognize the wisdom that comes from the lineage, starting with Kuntuzangpo all the way through each of the great masters until the teacher who is giving you the transmission today. It is about seeing that that the wisdom being transmitted to you is bigger than a single individual, it is not owned by your teacher. Instead it’s a stream of pure wisdom being transmitted through teacher and student going all the way back to the Buddha. Connect to that timeless oral lineage, and be open to receive the blessing of the lineage. The teacher is like a door or window, opening up and letting the light of the blessing of the lineage shine through. Focus and connect with that rather than the individual teacher.

When you listen to the sound of the oral transmission being read, feel that these words are “the stainless speech emerging from the Buddha’s own speech.” Feel that these words are the words of the Buddha and great masters. It is not your teacher’s words, but the stainles words of the Buddha echoing through the lineage. 

The essence of an oral transmission is to listen one-pointedly to the sound of the unbroken lineage. Therefore, you must insure that every word spoken by the teacher is heard clearly by your ears. Simply listen. Don’t worry about if you understand the meaning of what is being said at that time. That is not important here. If you understand the meaning, that is wonderful. If you do not understand the meaning of the words, that is also wonderful. Just connect with the blessing within the sound of the words being transmitted. Do not fall asleep or be distracted with other things. Do not engage in any distractions. Sit upright but relaxed, and place your attention on the words in an open and relaxed way.

Since this transmission has come down from the Buddha to your present teacher in an unbroken line, you should feel that the blessings are actually being transferred to your own stream of being through the sound of the transmission. Think that by receiving this transmission I have now obtained the authority and power to read the lineage texts, practice the lineage teachings, and explain and share this dharma to others who have faith and trust in the teachings. 

The essential point of receiving an oral transmission are to first keep the body upright and attentive. Sit respectfully. Second, keep the speech silent. Third, keep the mind focused one-pointedly on the speech of your teacher. This is what you need to do.

One final point is that since you are receiving a gift from your teacher, it is appropriate to give them a gift in return. This seals the blessing through mutual generosity. Even if you are poor, you can give one dollar, or even a scarf. The amount is not what is important. What is important is that you connect with the receiving of the blessing through generosity, sealing the connection.  

Also since oral transmission are often rare and precious, be sure to write down what was transmitted to you, on what date, and by whom. This way you do not forget.