Description
By H.E. Yongdzin Lopon Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche
The Library of Triten Norbutse Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal, has compiled the writings of H.E. Yongdzin Lopon Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche, the senior most scholar in the Bon tradition, and organized them into a beautiful 13-volume set. Note: These books are in the Tibetan language.
Volume 1: “sTon Pa sangs rgyas kyi skyes rabs padma dkar po’i phreng ba”. The history of the successive lives of Buddha Tonpa Shenrab is based on extensive and medium-length biographies. This text is compiled in a condensed version to make it more accessible to interested people. Some important points are clarified. There is an index of important terms, which are contained in the text, along with their explanation.
Volume 2: continuation of Volume 1
Volume 3: “bTan byung dang lo rgyus kyi skor”. This volume contains three texts. The first, based on Buddhist and Bön original sources, is a history introducing early Tibetan religion and culture for the younger Tibetan audience. It is written in an informal freestyle. The second is a history of the origin of Yundgrung Bön and a short explanation of Bon practice. The third is a pilgrimage guidebook to Tibet and Nepal’s important Bon monasteries and holy sites. It is based on Bön historical texts and Rinpoche’s pilgrimages.
Volume 4: “rNam thar dang dkar chag gi skor”. This volume, with thirty-five articles, contains various catalogs of temples and stupas, a description of Tonpa Shenrab’s clothing, and an analytical study of his date of birth. It also includes a list of the lineage masters and some biographies (rnam thar) of various lamas.
Volume 5: “bZo rig p’i skor”. Five texts describe the method of building statues, stupas, and temples, the method of building the mandalas of the four series of Tantras, methods of divination, and the explanation of the first two vehicles of Bön.
Volume 6: “Rab ‘byams dkyil ‘khor rgya mtsho’i zhal thang gi bkod pa dwangs shel me long”. These texts explain the arrangement for the thangka paintings of the yidam deities of the four tantric cycles, along with drawings showing their position, colors, etc.
Volume 7: continuation of Volume 6
Volume 8: “bDus rtags dang phar phyin gyi skor”. The first and second texts of this series explain logic. The third explains Prajna Paramita. The fourth explains Shinay practice. The fifth is a further explanation of advanced Shinay.
Volume 9: “dBu m’i rnam bshad kyi skor”. The volume contains a series of texts on Madhyamika.
Volume 10: “gSang ba sngags kyi rnam par bshad p’i mchan bka’ ‘grel gsal byed ches bya ba bzhugs”. This volume contains an extensive study of the stages of practice of the four cycles of Tantra.
Volume 11: “Ma rgyud kyi ‘grel b’i skor”. This series includes five texts explaining the Mother Tantra.
Volume 12: “Zin bris dang chog khrigs kyi skor”. This volume is a description and explanation of rituals.
Volume 13: “rDzogs chen gyi skor”. This volume includes six texts with instructions on rDzogs Chen. The fifth text contains long-life prayers.
