Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche

[Luke]

The human founder of Bon was Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche. I haven't been able to find too much information in English about him, but I'll post a few articles I found about him.

http://bonpo.wordpress.com/who-is-buddha-tonpa/

http://bon-encyclopedia.wikispaces.com/ ... yofBon.pdf

The second article mentions Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche's "Twelve Great Deeds." Does anyone know what these 12 great deeds were?

[kalden yungdrung]

Hello Luke,

Thanks for your reply and effort.

Best wishes for your practice


Kalden Yungdrung

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Here are the 12 deeds of Buddha Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche

1- The Deed of Birth
2- The Deed of Dissemination
3- The Deed of Pacifying
4- The Deed of Leading (sentient beings)
5- The Deed of Definite (marriage)
6- The Deed of Emanation
7- The Deed of Subduing
8- The Deed of Victory
9- The Deed of Knowledge
10- The Deed of Solitude
11- The Deed of Liberation
12- The Deed of Accomplishment (passing beyond sorrow)


Here follows brief summary of 12 deeds of Buddha Tonpa Shenrab. All the first lines are in Tibetan, as it appears in Bon texts.

1. rnam par bzhes pa'i mdzad pa (sku bltams pa)
The deed of the birth: the birth of Shenrab as the son of... dMu King Thokar.

2. rnam par spel ba'i mdzad pa
The deed of dissemination: Disseminated the teachings of Bon.

3. rnam par 'dul ba'i mdzad pa
The deed of pacifying the hell beings and guiding them to follow the path of Boddhisattva.

4. rnam par 'dren pa'i mdzad pa
The deed of leading Guling mati, who was overwhelmed by desire, to the path of goddess.

5. rnam par nges pa'i mdzad pa
The deed of increasing wisdom by marriage and engaging in youthful play.

6. rnam par sprul pa'i mdzad pa
The deed of benefiting beings by emanating sons to solve people’s problem.

7. rnam par 'joms pa'i mdzad pa
The deed of providing shelter: rescue all (nine men and three thousands soldiers) from their suffering.

8. rnam par rgyal ba'i mdzad pa
The deed of leading to blissful path: Defeated Mara Khyapa’s soldiers.

9. rnam par rig pa'i mdzad pa
The deed of Preaching: preached 84000 Bon teachings.

10. rnam par dben pa'i mdzad pa
The deed of becoming monk: Left all followers and property, and became monk.

11. rnam par grol ba'i mdzad pa
The deed of ascetic practice for nine years and engaged in habit of life of human, bird and monkey.

12. rnam par grub pa'i mdzad pa
The deed of Accomplishment: Passing into blissful, to display the nature against those who believe as eternity.

[kalden yungdrung]

Hello dear readers,

Want to add that the depicted photo of the Bon Buddha Tonpa Shenrab here, is the Sambhogakaya form.

Best wishes

Kalden Yungdrung

[Mariusz]

I'd like to mention and it could be perhaps important for new buddhists: Buddha Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche is not a Buddha according to Buddhism because He is not included in buddhist Sutras/Siastras/Tantras /Termas... but only in tibetan Bon religion, as far as I know of course, excuse me

[kalden yungdrung]

I'd like to mention and it could be perhaps important for new buddhists: Buddha Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche is not a Buddha according to Buddhism because He is not included in buddhist Sutras/Siastras/Tantras /Termas... but only in tibetan Bon religion, as far as I know of course, excuse me

Dear Mariusz,

Before the Sarma tradition there was the Bon religion flourishing in the ancient Tibet.
In those days they never doubt the existence of Buddha Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche.
It is a Sarma invention to make doubts because of the persecution of the Bon and Bonpos after 800.
Even here and now anno data 2010 are there family clans who stem directly from Buddha Tonpa Shenrab.

So the reason why Buddha Tonpa Shenrab was not included in the Indian Buddhist Sarma tradition is due to political reasons

These doubts were cleared away when the Dalal Lama did recognize official in 1967 the Bon as the "fifth" Tibetan tradition. The Dalai Lama was so wise to do this and i am very happy about this.
So did end a 1200 years persecution from Tibetans among Tibetans.
We know at the very moment, who realy is the enemy of the Tibetans after 1959. This is not the poor Bonpos.
So the exodus had a positive effect for the persecuted Bonpos..............

So we have many Buddhas and one of them is Buddha Tonpa Shenrab and the other well respected Buddha is Buddha Shakyamuni from India/Nepal.

How did it come that Bonpos do recognize the Indian Buddha Shakyamuni and the Sarma tradition doesn't recognize the Buddha Tonpa Shenrab who is a Sambhogakaya?
I can tell you that the bad image about Bon and Bonpos is indoctrinated for many centuries among the Tibetans and some of them do stamp actual still with this image.


Best wishes for our practice
Kalden Yungdrung