Theos-Talk Archives (December 1998 Message tt00270)

In a message dated 12/28/98 11:07:08 PM, Jerry S. wrote:

<<I keep hearing references to Bonpos as the bad guys, and while

they may have been the "bad guys" historically, they have

cleaned up their act in modern times. In fact, some Bonpos texts

can't be distinguished from "normal" Tibetan Buddhists texts.>>

As corroboration to Jerry's claim, I mention again THE PRACTICE OF DZOGCHEN
(formerly titled BUDDHA MIND, which like "the Veil of Isis" still runs along
the header throughout the book).  From p. 106-7,

"In the beginning, Tibetan Bon [usually Bhon for HPB] seems to have been
solely based on worshipping nature of the spirits of nature [i.e.,
elementals], but later it incorporated mainly Buddhist teachings, as well as
some others.… At the beginning, Bon in Tibet consisted of three aspects--
methods of subduing harmful spirits, worshipping the divinities, and
performances of the home hearth .  Apart from those elements, Bon had no
philosophical and religious tenets.  This Bon tradition is called the Black
Bon Tradition. : At the time of the death of King Trigum Tsenpo [around the
first century of our era] other Bon practices such as displaying miracles,
predicting the future and performances of death ceremonies were brought by Bon
masters from neighboring countries: Kashmir, Zhangzhung and Brusha.… Around
the reign of King Thrisong Deutsen (790-858 AD) of TIbet, the tradition of
["translated Bon"] originated.  When Gyalwa'i Changchub was ordered by the
king to receive teachings from Rinchen Chog, the great Buddhist teacher,
instead of obeying, in protest he translated many Buddhist texts into Bon
terminology.…"

Bonpo religion has many texts in common with Tibetan Buddhism, especially
Nyingma, as both had their formative period around the same time, namely 8th
to 10th centuries AD.  However, Nyingma is also quite distinguishable from Bon
teachings, in that the Nyingma rely more heavily on tradition Buddhist
teachings, such as the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, the 12-fold
Wheel of Causation, the Bodhisattva Vows, etc.  Bon has its own indigenous
categorization of teachings, texts, and commentaries.  Nyingma thus holds an
intermediate position in Tibetan religions, between the austere and scholarly
Gelugpa so praised by HPB, and the elemental-worshipping and ritual-
emphasizing Bon practitioners, in my opinion.

Unlike HPB, I don't think the Bon religion is ALL bad; but it does rely
heavily on ceremonial magic, which is quite dangerous and in any case relevant
to pretty much the lower planes.  The authentic Buddhism in Bon is strong,
however, and ad Jerry states, shouldn't be downplayed or castigated.  I would
venture that some Bon masters are genuine bodhisattvas; others are sorcerors.
Like every other tradition in Tibet.

Rich