Under the Guidance of the Abbott of Bon, the Bon Foundations supports Menri Monastery (Medicine Mountain), situated in Northern India, through provides basic needs including food, clothing, shelter, and education to the monks, nuns, and children of Menri as they are the future of Bon. The Bon Foundation also helps to maintain the magnificent monastery complex known as The Shining City so that it can continue to inspire residents, practitioners, scholars and sitters to work together to preserve this extraordinary ancient culture.
Bon originated in Olmo Lungring—Ol symbolizes the unborn; Mo the undiminishing; Lung Tonpa Shenrab’s prophetic words; and Ring his everlasting compassion.
Olmo Lungring constitutes one-third of the world and is described as an eight-petalled lotus under a sky. The inner region contains palaces, rivers, and parks. Its center rises Mount G-Yung-Drung Gutseg, symbolizing permanence, indestructibility, and the Nine Ways of Bon. At the base, four rivers flow towards the four cardinal directions.
To the South, Barpo Sogye, and Tonpo Shenrab’s birthplace.
To the West and North, Tonpa Shenrab’s wives’ and children’s palaces.
To the East, the temple Shampo Lhatse.
The intermediate region has twelve cities, four of which align with the cardinal directions. In contrast, the third region includes the outer land. An ocean and snowy mountains encircle these regions.
Access to Olmo Lungring is gained by the arrow way named after Tonpa Shenrab shot an arrow to create a passage through an impenetrable mountain range.
Some scholars relate the Olmo Lungring to Mount Kailash and its four rivers. Others refer to the Middle East and Persia at the time of Cyrus the Great. To Bonpo, geographic identification is less important than the mythological origins of their religion. As Lopon Tenzin Namdak pointed out, symbolic descriptions that combine history, geography, and mythology are well-known in ancient scriptures.
On January 1, 2018, four months following the death of His Holiness Menri Trizin 33rd Lungtok Tenpai Nyima
The following publications are recommended as useful for those interested in Bon studies. We are grateful to the Ligmincha Store for their annotations on the following books. Most of these books can be ordered through www.ligminchastore.org, and some are available on www.amazon.com.
On January 1, 2018, four months following the death of His Holiness Menri Trizin 33rd Lungtok Tenpai Nyima, a Menri Geshe–Dawa Dargyal–was chosen to succeed him as the 34th Menri Trizin by means of a unique process. The Bon Foundation extends its congratulations to H.H. Menri Trizin 34th, Geshe Dawa Dargyal Rinpoche! An accomplished practitioner of Yungdrung Bon, he worked closely and faithfully with H. H. Menri Trizin 33rd in the administrative oversight of Menri. We are so happy to offer him our very best wishes and support.