A SHORT HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF THE BON RELIGION (PART 2)
THE FOUNDER AND HIS TEACHINGS:
The founder of Bon religion is the Lord Shenrab Mibo (gShen-rab Mi-bo). In
past ages there were three brothers, Dagpa (Dag-pa), Salba (aSal-ba), and
Shepa (Shes-pa), who studied the Bon doctrines in the heaven named Sridpa
(Srid-pa) Yesang (Ye-sangs), under the Bon sage Bumtri Logi Chechan ('Bum-khri
glog-gi-lce-can). When their studies were completed, they visited the God of
Compassion, Shenlha Okar (gShen-lha 'od-dkar) and asked him how they could
help the living beings submerged in the misery and sorrow of suffering. He
advised them to act as guides to mankind in three successive ages of the
world. To follow his advice the eldest brother Dagpa completed his work in the
past world age. The second brother Salba took the name Shenrab and became
the teacher and guide of the present world age. The youngest brother Shepa
will come to teach in the next world age.
The Lord Shenrab was born in the Barpo Sogye Palace to the south of
Mount Yungdrung. He was born a prince, married while young and had children.
At the age of 31 he renounced the world and lived in austerity, teaching the
doctrine. During his whole life his efforts to propagate the Bon religion were
obstructed by the demon Khyabpa (Khyab-pa) Lagring (Lag-ring). This demon
fought to destroy or impede the work of Tonpa Shenrab untill he was eventually
converted and became his disciple. Once, pursuing the demon to regain his
stolen horses, Tonpa Shenrab arrived in Tibet; it was his only visit to Tibet.
There he imparted some instructions concerning the performance of rituals but,
on the whole, found the land unprepared to receive fuller teachings. Before
leaving Tibet he prophesied that all his teachings would flourish in Tibet
when the time was ripe. Tonpa Shenrab departed this life at the age of 82.
There are three biographies of Tonpa Shenrab. The earliest and shortest
one is known as Dodu (mDo-'dus): "Epitome of Aphorism". The second which is
in two volumes is called Zermik (gZer-mig): "Piercing Eye". These two accounts
date from the 10th and 11th centuries respectively. The third and largest is
in twelve volumes and is known as Zhiji (gZhi-brjid): "The Glorious". It
belongs to the category of scriptures known as "spiritual transmission"
(bsNyan-rgyud). It is believed to have been dictated to Londen Nyingpo (bLo-
ldan snying-po) who lived in the fourteenth century.
(Cont'd)