Masters of the Zhang Zhung Nyengyud: Pith Instructions from the Experiential Transmission of Bönpo Dzogchen is the heart teachings of great Bönpo Dzogchen yogis, the first thirty-five masters of the Experiential Transmission of the Zhang Zhung Nyengyud, freely translated by the current lineage holder, Yongdzin Lopön Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche. Also included are this great teacher's own instructions on the practices of Clear Light meditation (Trekchö and Thögal) and Guru Yoga.
Each master's heart teachings are printed alongside his full colour image. These reproductions of traditional tsakali initiation cards, painted in Tibet before the Chinese invasion, help the reader connect to the teachings in a direct and intimate way, and are an inspiring aid to Guru Yoga practice.
The Zhang Zhung Nyengyud is the most ancient Dzogchen cycle still practised today. It began with the primordial Buddha, Kuntu Zangpo, ran through a lineage of nine Dersheg-Buddhas, then through Masters from the Deva and Naga realms, arriving in the realm of humans in the country of Tagzig, from where it passed into Zhang Zhung and Tibet in prehistoric times. It has never been interrupted nor have the teachings been concealed; they are still very much alive today, a great source of unmodified Dzogchen.
The informative Introduction by Dmitry Ermakov (author of B? and Bön) examines some key points of the Dzogchen path, and takes a quick look at different types of Bön and the dissemination of Yungdrung Bon in Zhang Zhung and Tibet against the backdrop of Central and Inner Asian history. The question of the origins of Bönpo and Buddhist Dzogchen is also touched upon, and in particular, the lineage of the Zhang Zhung Nyengyud is discussed in detail alongside a unique and verified lineage tree diagram drawn up with the help of Yongdzin Rinpoche himself, Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung and Geshe Namdak Nyima. This readily understood diagram enables readers to see how the teachings of this unbroken lineage have come down to us through the ages.
This book, Masters of the Zhang Zhung Nyengyud, is a rare treasure, both for those new to Dzogchen and to experienced practitioners alike, because Yongdzin Rinpoche's lively translation and comments put these teachings in the context of our modern times, helping students to integrate this ancient wisdom with their daily lives. As the living spiritual descendent of these Dzogchen Masters, Lopön Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche carries the live current of this ancient transmission, delivering these pith instructions directly to the reader in a powerful and accessible way. |
