Nepalese teacher speaks on Tibetan Bon tradition
Posted on Saturday, October 4, 2008
CONWAY — Tibetan teachers used to be a rarity in the United States, but due in part to the cross-cultural appeal of the Dalai Lama, the sight of maroon-colored robes among us is not so exotic.
Even in Arkansas. The University of Arkansas has a Tibetan lama teaching at its Fayetteville campus, and organizations such as Little Rock’s Ecumenical Buddhist Society regularly bring Tibetan teachers into the state.
Ponlob Trinley Nyima is a Tibetan teacher who wears maroon-colored clothing, but with hints of blue. That’s not all that sets him apart. Ponlob is a teacher of Bon, which predates Buddhism.
The traditional Bon account traces its origins to the Buddha Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche, who appeared thousands of years before the historical Buddha Shakyamuni.
The Dalai Lama has recognized Bon as the fifth principal spiritual school of Tibet, along with the four Buddhist schools of Nyingma, Gelug, Sakya and Kagyu.
Brought to Arkansas by Hendrix College Sept. 22-24, Ponlob spoke to classes and the public at the school’s Conway campus and gave a talk on “The Path to Enlightenment in the Tibetan Bon Tradition” at the Ecumenical Buddhist Society in Little Rock.
His visit was sponsored by Hendrix’s Odyssey Program and the Murphy Foundation and was under the auspices of the religion department. William Gorvine, assistant professor of religion, was his host. Gorvine, who received funding to take Hendrix students to research Tibetan communities in northern India in 2007, visited Ponlob’s monastery, Menri, located several hours north of New Delhi. They invited Ponlob to visit Hendrix. Gorvine did doctoral research at Menri in 1999 and 2000.
Menri monastery was established in the 15 th century in Tibet. After the Chinese occupation, it emerged in exile in the 1960 s. Ponlob, born in the Dolpo region of northwest Nepal in 1962, is the head teacher.
“His role is similar to that of a dean or provost of a college,” says Gorvine. We sat down with Ponlob at Gorvine’s Conway home.
Q. What is a typical day at the monastery ?
A. We get up around 5 a.m. Breakfast is at 6; we chant and pray during breakfast. Then there are classes, including debate, meditation, dzogchen [advanced meditation ]. I teach four classes, including monastic discipline. We have lunch around noon; someone usually reads a spiritual biography as we eat. This was started by the abbot [Lungtok Tenpe Nyima, head of Bon lineage ]; His Holiness was a friend of [the late Roman Catholic monk and writer ] Thomas Merton and saw this practice in Christian monasteries and adapted it.
In the summer, we take a three-hour break because it is very hot. At 3 p. m., we have tea with chanting and prayers for those who need healing. After 3: 30, the monks study grammar, poetry, astrology, Tibetan medicine, thangka [sacred ] painting, ritual and other teachings. There are examinations and debates every week. The monks usually go to bed around 10: 30 or 11 p.m.
Q. What can one learn by studying the stars ?
A. You get information that will help you live a better life, to generate merit to attain a better rebirth. It can help you be a better practitioner, to have more compassion, more bodhicitta [seeking enlightenment to benefit others ]. It is a tool to help you understand who you are and who you could become. But it’s more than getting information. You have to act upon it.
Q. Why is poetry important ?
A. Poetry gives us an insight to our own emotions, inspires us, helps us develop wisdom, happiness and bliss. If I write beautiful poetry to the buddhas, it is like praying and chanting.
Q. What are differences between Bon and Tibetan Buddhism ?
A. Our origin, mantras, rituals and deities are different. But the main view is the same. Love, compassion, wisdom, equanimity. It is the same point, different vehicles. Most dictionaries define Buddhists as followers of Gautama [the historical Buddha Shakyamuni ]. But the word buddha means enlightenment and there are many buddhas. We believe Bon is Buddhism. Buddhism means, to Tibetans, one who has belief in the teachings, the three Jewels [Buddha, Dharma, Sangha ], enlightenment, past and future lives.
Q. Is Bon growing in the West ?
A. Before 1990, there wasn’t a lot of connection with the West. Now Bon is growing very fast in America, Mexico, Europe.
Q. How many people practice the Bon ?
A. About 1 million in Tibet. We have about 50, 000 in Nepal. I don’t know the numbers elsewhere.
Q. Explain the Bon philosophy on our relationship with the “elemental qualities of nature.” A. The five elements are fire, water, earth, wind and space. This universe is built by the five elements, our bodies are built by the five elements. When in balance, this is wholeness. Earth element is very important for human beings because everything we get comes from the earth, such as our food. If we keep the elements in balance within ourselves, the elements will be in balance externally. All kinds of natural disasters come from destruction of environment, which creates imbalance. Offerings and rituals for purification bring the five elements back into balance; it is very important to do this.
Q. What is the purpose of life ?
A. For me, it is to prepare for the next life and benefit other sentient beings. If I didn’t work to help other beings, if I didn’t prepare for a better life in the next life, there isn’t any point to life. The human birth is very precious.
Q. The monastery sells incense with 30 different herbs. What is the role of incense in Bon ?
A. It’s not just the herbs; the incense is also blessed with mantras and prayers. Incense is used to help purify, internally, our mental states and, externally, the land, the home, the environment. We believe many diseases are stopped by the smell of the incense. It also is used to make offerings to the buddhas.
Q. Could globalization and technology cause Bon to diminish ?
A. No. Technology can be very beneficial to bring people closer to our religious world. I came from India in just a few hours to teach. Our Web site [www. bonfoundation. org ] helps inform people. But technology also brings nuclear weapons. If used in the right way, technology is very beneficial. If used wrong, a big problem.
Q. When did you first come to the United States ?
A. My first trip was in 2000. I’ve been here nine times. I like America. It is a very modern country; the people are very welcoming.
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