Five Extraordinary Days at Menri Monastery

Commemoration of 33rd Menri Trizin and Enthronement of 34th Menri Trizin

Rob Patzig, president and chair of the Ligmincha International Board, was among a group of Ligmincha participants at a week of special ceremonies and events at Menri Monastery. Here, he shares a summary of the activities. Photos by Salvador Espinosa and Rob Patzig.

Menri in the eveningBön practitioners from around the world gathered at Menri Monastery in Dolanji, India from September 3–7 for a week of special events commemorating the end of the mourning period for the passing of the 33rd Menri Trizin, Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, and the enthronement of the 34th Menri Trizin, Lungtok Dawa Dargyal Rinpoche. 

About 700 guests, including a group from Ligmincha International, joined the more than 500 monks, nuns and children of Menri Monastery and Redna Menling Nunnery. Among the countries represented were India, Nepal, Tibet, the United States, Austria, France, Italy, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, Switzerland, Poland and China. The Menri Trizin is the abbot of Menri Monastery and head of the Bön lineage.

Chongtul Rinpoche and members of U.S. Bön centers, including Ligmincha International

Commemorating H.H. Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche

The one-year anniversary of His Holiness the 33rd Menri Trizin, Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, dropping his body (on September 14, 2017), and the end of the official mourning period, was commemorated on September 3 and 4. 

Commemoration of 33rd Menri Trizin

Events began with the consecration of a beautiful white marble stupa on the site where His Holiness’ body had been cremated last year. Even though the entirety of Menri Monastery is a monument to the greatness of His Holiness’ life and work, the stupa, which sits just to the left of the main temple, is a powerful reminder of his abiding presence in our lives. It also embodies the refounding of Bön outside of Tibet and Nepal.

Stupa honoring H.H. the 33rd Menri Trizin

Later the same day, a statue of His Holiness was welcomed to Redna Menling Nunnery, and the five objects (butter lamps, incense, water, food and flowers) were offered. In the evening hundreds, and possibly thousands, of butter lamps were lit in the main courtyard of Menri Monastery. The five objects were offered again, with participants reciting His Holiness’ prayer many times and circumambulating the temple and stupa.

Monks at the commemoration

Gathering in the courtyard on the second day of commemoration

Statue of H.H. Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche in the museumThe second day began with many prayers offered in front of a new thangka of H.H. the 33rd Menri Trizin. Offerings of body, speech and mind, as well as the eight auspicious symbols and the seven precious jewels, were made. At this time, dozens of books, banners and symbols of respect were offered by the various departments of Menri and by many Bön organizations. His Holiness was conferred a new title: “The great father who preserved the ancient treasures of Zhang Zhung and Tibet.”

In the afternoon everyone visited the new museum dedicated to the life of His Holiness. A life-size and highly realistic statue of His Holiness was on display, along with many of his personal practice items and objects of his daily use. Finally, in the evening, another mandala offering was made in his honor, followed by musical offerings by the monks at the main temple, the Protector’s temple, and His Holiness’ private residence. 

 Enthronement of H.H. Lungtok Dawa Dargyal Rinpoche

H.H. Lungtok Dawa Dargyal Rinpoche during the enthronement

Morning sang chöd ritual

Following a free day in which practitioners could visit the temples, practice, go to town and rest, two days celebrating the enthronement of His Holiness the 34th Menri Trizin, Lungtok Dawa Dargyal Rinpoche, took place. September 6 began with the raising of new prayer flags on Lhagyal Hill behind the monastery and a large sang chöd offering. Then the chief guests joined the monks in the main temple for the enthronement ceremony.

Rob Patzig is among those making offerings

Inside the main temple

The 34th Menri Trizin took his seat on the Golden Throne, and mandala offerings for his long life began. Hundreds of objects—statues, stupas, sacred texts, the eight auspicious symbols, tormas and more—were offered to His Holiness. During the enthronement ceremony thunder could be heard resonating across the valley. The thunder was seen as auspicious! Immediately after the enthronement Ligmincha had the honor to join with a small number of other groups in offering tea to all the monks, nuns and children of Menri, a total of 530 people. Thanks to the generosity of our global sangha, we offered 1,000 rupees ($15) to each monk, nun and child, along with the tea and sweet rice.

Menri monks with drums and cymbals

Celebrating the 34th Menri Trizin

 
In the afternoon H.H. the 34th Menri Trizin gave the empowerment of the wisdom deity Mawei Senge and made his first public address. There was a light rain during the empowerment that grew into a real rain shower. This, too, was auspicious as it was interpreted as a cleansing and refreshing in that moment for the future work of the 34th Menri Trizin. The evening saw all the guests gather in the playground of the Bön Children Welfare Center for an evening of musical and dance performances by many different groups.

Attendees from Ligmincha Poland

Tulku Jorge Rene at Menri

Smiles of celebration The final day saw more light rain in the morning and into the afternoon. Beginning just after breakfast many speeches were made, mostly in Tibetan, but some in English as well. The talks presented in English, one by Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the president of the Tibetan Government in Exile, and one by the 34th Menri Trizin Rinpoche were both profound and emotionally moving. Dr. Sangay spoke of the long history of persecution of Bön within Tibet, both by the Chinese but also by Tibetans from the main schools of Buddhism. He connected the work of the 33rd Menri Trizin with that of ancient Bön masters who also had to fight and struggle to preserve the texts and maintain the unbroken lineage of the Shenraps. He also pointed us toward a future in which, with the leadership of the 34th Menri Trizin, Bön would not only grow and expand in India and abroad, but also come back to the Tibetan people both in Tibet and in the diaspora.

The talks concluded with an address by the 34th Menri Trizin, Lungtok Dawa Dargyal Rinpoche. He is very plain spoken and matter-of-fact. In front of all of the monks and guests, he confessed the many ways in which he felt unsuited for the role to which he has been elected. But he also expressed confidence in the process of the election and promised that his every effort would be honest and diligent, and that he saw himself as a vehicle for carrying forward the mission and vision of the 33rd Menri Trizin.

Rob Patzig receiving blessings from His Holiness

It was clear through his speech and also by watching him throughout the week’s ceremonies and events that H.H. the 34th Menri Trizin has all of the desired qualities to effectively lead Menri into a new era. He is humble, attentive, deeply experienced in administration, friendly to everyone, serious, intelligent and diligent. And many other skilled and capable monks surround His Holiness. He is not alone in serving the Bön community. All of us left Menri with a deep sense of respect for the new His Holiness, and a strong feeling that the future of Bön is in excellent hands.