Following the Footsteps of the Bon Masters

Tibetan Bon religion is the indigenous spiritual tradition of Tibet rooted before the arrival of Buddhism in the 7th century AD. In addition, it was founded by Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche. According to the traditional Bon account of its origins, many thousands of years before the birth of the Buddha Shakyamuni. The Buddha Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche came to this world and expounded his teachings in the land of Olmo Lungring. “Ol” symbolizes the unborn, “Mo” the undiminishing, “Lung” the prophetic words of Tonpa Shenrab and “Ring” his everlasting compassion. Some modern scholars have identified Olmo Lungring with Shang Shung. The country surrounding Mount Kailash in western Tibet and the cradle of Tibetan civilization.

It includes teachings and practices applicable to all parts of life.

It includes our relationship with the elemental qualities of nature; our ethical and moral behavior; the development of love, compassion, joy. Furthermore, it also includes equanimity; and Bon’s highest teachings of the “Great Perfection,” Dzogchen.

Although Bon Religion is the original one in Tibet, it is also influenced by Buddhism. Today many Tibetans still believe Bon is their religion. According to a recent survey, there are 264 active Bon monasteries, convents, and hermitages in Tibet. Moreover, many current ongoing Tibetan traditional festival practices are closely associated with Bon. For instance, the celebration of Tibetan New Year (Losar) and the typical Tibetan religious flags on hills are to control the spirits in the mountains, etc.

You will start this 9-day tours with spending a few days in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet for acclimatization to the high altitude of Tibet. During your stay in Lhasa, you will be exploring some of the major best-loved sights of religious and historic significance in the city, including the Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple.

As part of the key focus of your thematic tour in “Following the Footsteps of the Bon Masters”. During the tour, we will be visiting the following important and sacred seats of Tibetan Bonpo monasteries. Furthermore, visiting the temples in central and west parts of Tibet areas.

1. Tharding (Ri Gyal) Bonpo monastery in Thongmon County, the monastery was used to be a small temple of the Shen family and the 15th successor of Shen lineage expanded the temple in 1360. In addition, in the 15th century, the monastery became renowned for its statues, scriptures, and stupas of the Bon religion.
2. Nya-me Sherab Gyeltsen founded the Menri Bonpo monastery in Namling County in 1405 . For centuries Menri functioned as the most important Bon teaching centre in Tibet.
3. Rala Yungdrung Ling Bonpo monastery in Namling County one of the most influential Bonpo monasteries in recent Tibetan history. And, Nangton Dawa Gyeltsen funded it during the 19th century on the ridge of the holy Bonpo Mountain, Olha Gyel.
4. Zangri Bonpo monastery in Nyemo County, founded in 1096 by master Tshul khrims dpal chen. It became a great centre for studies in metaphysics. In the place, where, over the years, hundreds of monks studied. It was also a place where tantric meditation and rituals were commonly practised.

In addition, along with this tour route, you will be amazed at a number of gorgeous sights.

We will stop by the snow peaks of Mt. Jomo Kangkar (7048 meters), Yamdrok Lake and the Karo La Glacier, to sink in with their tranquillity and majesty, before we hit and explore around Gyantse. Making most of our time in Shigatse, we will pay a visit to Tashi Lhunpo monastery, the largest Buddhist monastery in the Tsang province or the west-central Tibet.

We will also get an ample chance to visit and observe the traditional life of the indigenous Tibetan rural communities. Moreover, we will visit the handicraft centre to see and learn the extraordinary array of authentic Tibetan traditional handicraft. Furthermore, we also visit and learn contemporary Tibetan works of crafts and arts.