Introduction to Bön Philosophy – Part 2

It is certainly reasonable to be concerned that someone who is taught that everything is empty and that nothing exists on its own might not understand what is meant and end up with a nihilistic outlook. Therefore, it is far better to start with a strong affirmation of the world as it appears, in all its variety, and then analyse what could be wrong with that view. We are all inherently naïve realists, believing in the genuine actuality of what our senses perceive. The Nine Ways of Bön signify the progressive journey of realisation, both intellectually and experientially, that an individual undertakes. This progression leads to increasingly profound modes of realisation, each accompanied by its unique application practices, leading either to the dissolution of all our erroneous superimpositions (ma rig pa, or ignorance), or to a more complete, whole and perfect vision (which is what the term 'Dzog chen' means).

One of the key teaching approaches of the Nine Ways is to help us identify beliefs that we may hold unconsciously, so that they can be analysed. The significance of this approach to studying Yungdrung Bön and the explanations derived from each of the Nine Ways does not lie in their absolute accuracy regarding the nature of reality — only Dzogchen presents the complete perspective — but in their capacity to elevate our understanding and facilitate a transition from ignorance (naïve realism, the first Way) to thorough realisation (Dzogchen emptiness, the ninth Way).

This Introduction to the Nine Ways of Bön course will primarily focus on the first two Ways. The examination will predominantly focus on the objects of our common experience, paying particular attention to how they are scrutinised by dharma theory.

The course consists of 8 lectures. is intended not only for complete beginners who wish to learn the core philosophical concepts of Yungdrung Bon, but also for advanced practitioners who wish to deepen their knowledge of the tradition.

It is not a prerequisite to have attended the first lecture.

Dates

The dates are as follows (Paris time, CEST / UTC+1):

• April 12 from 4:30 to 5:30pm

• April 19 from 4:30 to 5:30pm

• April 23 from 4:30 to 5:30pm

• April 26 from 4:30 to 5:30pm

• April 30 from 4:30 to 5:30pm

• May 03 from 4:30 to 5:30pm

• May 07 from 4:30 to 5:30pm

• May 10 from 4:30 to 5:30pm

Among the many profound teachings transmitted at Shenten Dargye Ling, the Dzogchen Dragpa Korsum holds a special place within the Yungdrung Bön tradition. It is one of the four major Dzogchen cycles revealed by Buddha Tönpa Shenrab, presenting the complete path of awakening through three distinct transmissions: the extensive version taught in the Deva Loka (the god realm), the intermediate version in the human realm, and the condensed pith instructions revealed in the Naga realm. Together, these teachings guide practitioners from foundational understanding toward direct realisation of the natural state.

This year, Pönlop Tsangpa Tenzin Rinpoche will continue teaching from Dzogchen Dragpa Korsum, following last year’s exploration of the Proclamation in the Naga Realm. After covering the chapters on preliminary practices and the search for the nature of mind, Rinpoche will now teach the seventh chapter, focusing on the pith Dzogchen instructions of Trekchö – the direct means of recognising and remaining in the natural, uncontrived state beyond doubt and elaboration.

Ponlop Tsangpa Tenzin Rinpoche is the head teacher of Triten Norbutse monastery, and for many years now, he has honoured us with his presence and teaching at Shenten Dargye Ling. Receiving such authentic transmissions in person is an invaluable opportunity to deepen one’s connection with the living Bön lineage and integrate its wisdom into practice and everyday life.

For the first time at Shenten Dargye Ling, Khenpo Samten Tsukphu will offer a detailed training on the art of the Chöpon – the sacred role of the ritual master. The Tibetan term Chöpon (chos dpon) literally means “master of offerings,” referring to the person responsible for preparing, conducting, and maintaining the purity of ritual ceremonies. This is the first teaching of its kind at Shenten, providing a rare opportunity to enter deeply into the living tradition of sacred ritual.

The retreat will take place exclusively on-site, allowing participants to receive personal, hands-on guidance in these intricate ritual practices. If you have, please bring your conch shell (Tibetan: dung kar) and bell (shang).

During this program, Khenpo Samten will guide participants through every aspect of the Lishu Tagring Tsok, one of the main ganapuja (feast offerings) in the Bön tradition, which is performed in Shenten every full moon day. The training includes the preparation and offering of tormas as supports of the ceremony, the meaning of symbolic gestures and offerings, and the use of ritual instruments such as drums and cymbals. Participants will also learn the melody and rhythm of the entire text as it is chanted and sung in the ceremony.

The teachings will further explore the significance of the ganapuja itself, explained within the context of the Inner Tantra teachings, along with reflections on the biography and enlightened qualities of Lishu Tagring.

This is a special opportunity to receive authentic transmission and guidance in the ritual arts, supporting both temple practice and personal retreat. All those wishing to deepen their understanding of Bön rituals and their symbolic meaning are warmly invited to join.

En juin, Shenten accueillera les membres du projet de recherche PaganTibet pour une rencontre de travail privée avec les moines de Shenten. Il ne s’agit pas d’une retraite ni d’un enseignement public : il n’y aura donc ni accès Zoom, ni inscription pour les visiteurs. Cette rencontre sera plutôt un temps d’échange, d’étude et de collaboration.

PaganTibet, « Reconstructing the Pagan Religion of Tibet », est un projet de recherche financé par le Conseil européen de la recherche et hébergé au CRCAO à Paris, sous la direction de Charles Ramble. Le projet étudie d’anciens manuscrits tibétains et des traditions rituelles liées aux mondes religieux prébouddhiques et anciens du Bön, en associant philologie, anthropologie, humanités numériques et savoir vivant des spécialistes religieux tibétains.

Cette rencontre résonne aussi profondément avec la vision de Yongdzin Rinpoché, qui souhaitait que Shenten soit non seulement un lieu de pratique et de transmission, mais aussi un centre d’étude et de recherche. En accueillant cet échange entre chercheurs et communauté monastique, Shenten remplit pleinement ce rôle : être un lieu où l’étude rigoureuse, la tradition vivante et la préservation de l’ancien héritage spirituel du Tibet peuvent se rencontrer et se soutenir mutuellement.

Bien que cette rencontre soit privée, nous sommes heureux de partager que ce travail a lieu à Shenten. C’est un signe encourageant que des ponts profonds continuent de se construire entre la recherche académique et la tradition Bön. Les personnes ayant un intérêt scientifique ou professionnel pour ce domaine sont chaleureusement invitées à découvrir les ressources publiques du projet PaganTibet et à suivre ses futurs travaux.

The stūpa – Tibetan chörten (Wylie: mchod rten) – is one of the most recognisable symbols of Buddhism and Yungdrung Bön, rich in layered meaning and spiritual significance. It embodies both the wisdom that perceives reality as it is and the wisdom that understands its boundless scope. As both a visual support and a symbol of enlightened qualities, the stūpa serves as a constant reminder of the Buddha's enlightened virtues.

Each element of its structure – proportions, shapes, and ornaments – symbolises specific qualities of the Buddha and the bodhisattvas. According to sacred texts, stūpas are expressions of the Buddha’s compassionate power, radiating blessings to all who honour them. They also serve as support for purification and the accumulation of merit.

Traditional practices associated with stūpas include prostrations, circumambulations, offerings, purification rituals, and the application of sacred oils or essences. These actions are intended to purify inner obscurations and strengthen the accumulation of virtuous merit.

The benefits of these practices are manifold: they are said to bring beneficial rains, fertile lands, prosperous harvests, health for sentient beings, and harmony among humans and animals. Offerings made to stūpas are therefore regarded as sources of well-being and abundance.

This workshop offers an in-depth exploration of the nature and symbolism of stūpas. It is intended for those who, guided by faith or the wish to understand, seek to deepen their connection with the sacred meaning of these spiritual monuments.

As a complement to this understanding, the act of drawing a stūpa will be practised as a form of meditation and spiritual cultivation. Quality paper and pencils are provided for the participants. Please bring other tools, such as a ruler, an eraser, or your favourite pencil.

Through mindful observation and careful tracing of its sacred geometry, participants can transform the creative process into a contemplative exercise – inviting stillness, focus, and inner connection with the qualities embodied by the stūpa itself.

We are delighted to announce the return of Amchi Nyima and Geshe Dennyi to Shenten Dargye Ling! They have kindly agreed to teach again this year, much to our joy.

The topic presented by Amchi Nyima is particularly valuable: he will offer an in-depth introduction to medicinal baths (Tibetan: བདུད་རྩི་ལྔ་ལུམས་; Wylie: bdud rtsi lnga lums), according to traditional Tibetan medicine. These are commonly referred to as Lum (Tibetan: ལུམས།; Wylie: lums).

Recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Lum offer a unique and rich field of knowledge—one you will have the opportunity to explore directly under the guidance of an experienced master.

In the morning, Amchi Nyima will explain in detail:

• the methods of steam bath application,

• how the treatment is administered,

• the most appropriate seasons for the therapy,

• as well as the necessary precautions and care during the course of treatment.

In the afternoon, Geshe Dennyi will continue his teaching on the causes of illness. This year, he will focus on karmic causes and traditional Tibetan methods for preventing imbalances and preserving health.

This year’s Summer Retreat at Shenten Dargye Ling is guided by Khenchen Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche, who will continue teaching the profound Dzogchen text Mume Dalpa (Tib. Mu-med bdal-pa).

Following the inspiring beginning of this study and practice last year, we now continue our exploration of these essential teachings. New participants are most welcome. Rinpoche’s clear explanations and compassionate guidance make these teachings accessible to all sincere practitioners, whether familiar with Dzogchen or new to it.

The Mume Dalpa is a foundational Dzogchen text within the Yungdrung Bön tradition. It presents the direct experience of the mind’s natural, non-conceptual state – and is beyond all intellectual thought. The term Mu-med means “beyond concept or duality,” and bdal-pa refers to vast "all-pervasiveness" or, in terms of "primordial or pure awareness" (Rigpa).

During this retreat, participants will receive its teachings and, through meditations, be guided to recognise the essence of Dzogchen (the Great Perfection) in accordance with the Yungdrung Bön tradition.

Continuing his teachings from previous years, Khenchen Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche will again offer us the precious meditation instructions of the Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyud, belonging to the unique Experiential Lineage, the Nyam Gyud.

Therefor Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyud, the orally transmitted Dzogchen lineage of Zhang Zhung, belongs to the highest category of Dzogchen teachings. Having the extremely rare quality of being an unbroken lineage from its origin till the present days, the Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyud own another wonderful particularity: alongside its complete corpus of Dzogchen teachings in four volumes, a lineage of short and decisive meditative instructions took birth, forged by the experiential realisation of the masters of the lineage: This is the Nyam Gyud, the Transmission of Experiences.

Consisting of precious key points about the view, the meditation, the activities and the fruit, it is a unique collection of the personal instructions of those realised masters to their disciples.

With a strong emphasis on meditation instructions for recognising the Nature of the Mind, this teaching is traditionally put into practice immediately after receiving each master’s instruction set – that's what we will do during this retreat: In the spirit of the pedagogy proper to this lineage, Khenchen Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche will proceed by alternating direct instructions with meditation sessions on each of those key-points.

We invite you to join this rare opportunity to dive directly into the instructions of one of the most unique Dzogchen lineages, and to build your own personal experience under the guidance of Rinpoche.

This retreat is convenient for both stabilising your understanding of the Dzogchen meditation and discovering at firsthand, making it a great opportunity for beginners and seasoned mediators alike.

We are pleased to announce that Khenpo Akarpa Rinpoche has agreed to come again this year to continue his teachings

Tsa Lung & Trülkhor

Khenpo Akarpa Lama Rinpoche presents a new course that offers an in-depth synthesis of Tibetan yogas. Distinct from the Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyud transmissions, this curriculum was designed by Rinpoche on the basis of his own research and expertise in Tibet’s diverse yogic lineages.

Tsa Lung and Trülkhor refer to inner tantric practices and purifying physical exercises that support the Dzogchen path. These methods were traditionally used by tantric yogis of the Himalayas, Zhang Zhung, and Tibet.

The programme covers in particular :

• Breath purification – techniques for releasing blockages in the tsa (channels), harmonising the five winds, and promoting physical and mental health;

• Body purification – methods for balancing the five elements, stimulating inner heat (tummo), and treating disorders caused by imbalances;

• Mind purification – approaches for calming the mind, removing obstacles, and developing single-pointed concentration.

These practices aim to purify body, speech, and mind, dissolve obstacles, and foster overall well-being. Participants can expect increased vitality, radiant health, and deep joy while cultivating compassion and wisdom.

Khenpo Akarpa Lama Rinpoche

Ordained at the age of five, Akarpa Rinpoche is regarded as one of the eminent Buddhist masters of our time. With more than thirty years of experience, he is a meditation teacher, accomplished Dzogchen practitioner, and scholar of the Sūtra, Tantra, and Dzogchen corpora.

True to the rimé (non-sectarian) approach, he has received major transmissions—Dzogchen, Ma Gyü Thukjé Nyima (Mother Tantra), Vajrakīlaya, Kālacakra, Guhyasamāja, the Six Yogas of Nāropa, and the Six Doctrines of Niguma—from masters within the Yungdrung Bön, Sakya, Gelug, Kagyü, Nyingma, and Jonang traditions.

Since 2008, he has spent several months each year studying and practising with Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche, receiving one-to-one instruction unequalled in the past two decades.

He also completed four years of study in Chinese Buddhism at the Minnan Buddhist Institute (China) and developed a keen interest in Zen, which he explored in Japan, where he led meditative tea ceremonies.

When not in retreat, Rinpoche teaches Tsa Lung, meditation, and other spiritual disciplines across China and Europe. In June 2017, he presented Tsa Lung to nearly a thousand Gelug monks at Ganden Monastery—the first public teaching of this Tibetan yoga to such a large monastic gathering. The same year he taught it at Menri Monastery at the invitation of Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, the 33rd Menri Trizin.

“The purpose of spiritual practice is never the religion itself, but the transformation of our being”, Rinpoche often reminds us.

Renowned for his wisdom, sincerity, and courage in facing modern challenges, he inspires students through his compassion, accessible teaching style, and profound understanding of contemporary struggles.