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SHORT OUTLINE OF THE BÖN TEACHINGS
The following outline of the Bön teachings is based on the Yungdrung tradition of Bön.
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The Bön canon is composed of two kinds of texts: the rediscovered texts
(terma)1 of Shenchen Luga, and the texts of oral transmission.
These scriptures are either the teachings of Tönpa Shenrab (Kangyur)
or the commentaries based on those teachings (Katen).
Tönpa Shenrab taught his doctrines in two systems:
‘Bön of Nine Successive Stages’ and ‘The Four Portals and the Treasury,
the Fifth’.
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The first classification is called the ‘Bön of Nine Successive Stages’, and is also more widely known as the
‘Nine Ways of Bön’. There are three versions of these texts, Lo-ter, Jang-ter and Ü-ter (Revealed
treasure of the South, North and Center). According to the Lo-ter version, the Nine Ways are:
1. Way of the Shen of Prediction, describing four different ways of prediction; by divination (mo),
astrology, ritual and examination of causes.
2. Way of the Shen of Visible Manifestation, expounding the origin and nature of gods and demons in
this world, and methods of exorcism.
3. Way of the Shen of Magical Power, explaining rites for disposing of adverse powers.
4. Way of the Shen of Existence, dealing with the intermediate state after death (bardo) and with
methods for guiding sentient beings towards liberation or at least towards a better rebirth.
5. Way of Virtuous Lay Practitioners, guiding those who apply the ten virtues and ten perfections.
6. Way of the Sages, containing the rules of monastic discipline.
7. Way of the White A, explaining the practices and rituals of the higher tantras.
8. Way of the Primordial Shen, stressing the need for a suitable teacher, place and occasion for tantric
practices, explaining the mandala in greater detail as well as instructions for deity meditation.
9. Unsurpassable Way, referring to the highest attainment through the path of Great
Perfection (Dzogchen).
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The second classification is called Go-shi Dzö nga, or ‘Four Portals and the Treasury, the Fifth’
1. the White Waters, containing spells and higher esoteric tantric practices.
2. the Black Waters, consisting of various rituals (healing, magical, divinatory and funerary rituals).
3. the Land of Phan, explaining rules for monks, nuns, and lay-people and expounding
philosophical doctrines
4. the Master’s Guide, instructing on psycho-spiritual exercises and meditation practices on Dzogchen.
5. the Treasury, subsuming the essential aspects of all four portals.
The complete Bön canon comprises over 200 volumes, and they are classified into four sections: the
Sutras, the Perfection of Wisdom teachings, the Tantras and Higher Knowledge.
The studies within a Bön monastery are divided into two main sections: the Dialectics School and the
Meditation Group. The curriculum of the Dialectics School stretches over nine years, and yearly the
following subjects are studied according to Bön: Pramana, the Nine Ways, Prajnaparamita, M_dhyamika,
Treasures, Discipline, Tantra (2 years), and Dzogchen.
The Meditation Class lasts four years, during which there is a daily routine of spiritual practice and study
of texts. After completing the full studies and a successful examination, a monk is awarded the
doctorate like title of a Geshe of Bön studies.
The cosmology of Bön is very complex and contains thousands of deities. The origin of the universe is
explained. The heavens are inhabited by many divinities, and the pantheon is extremely complex in
structure. Every tantric ritual has its own complete set of divinities: peaceful, wrathful, and fierce, while
others are guardians.
The main goal of the study and practice of the Bön tradition is to achieve enlightenment. This means to
purify the defilements and obscurations within one’s mind for the benefit of others. The bases are
compassion and the mind of enlightenment (bodhicitta). The first four ways of the above mentioned
Nine Ways, as taught by Tönpa Shenrab, contain the practices for welfare in this life, such has healing,
medicine, astrology, divination, while the other five contain the essential practices that lead to the
ultimate goal of enlightenment.
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