Customer Reviews

Bon: Its Encounter With Buddhism in Tibet

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This book only exists because the Bon religious tradition is not well known among many scholars. Connect with something by Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, who is a true preserver of the Tibetan cultural and religious tradition, if you would like an authentic history. It's slanderous and un-supported. In the process, Bansai wrote a book about Bon in which he did not consult one prominent Bon religious leader. Shame on you! Shame on you! This piece reads like the magazines sold in the checkout aisle of a grocery store. I know very little about the Bonpo cannon, their rituals, customs, lineages, teachings, cultural histories; however, after reading this trash, I want to write an unsubstantial book about them and their encounter with Buddhism.

In truth, Buddhism encountered Bon, the native indigenious religion of Tibet, when it came from India in the 7th century. Much of Buddhism in Tibet has the flavors and customs of the Bonpo. Simply look at their monastic robes. If you wonder why they are a certain color and cut, it stems from the period when the Bonpo enjoyed complete autonomy.

Remember, the Bonpo have a 18,000 year old history. Strangely enough, both the buddhists and the bonpo have no records for hundreds of years during the time when Buddhism entered Tibet via the marriage of a Tibetan king. According to Tibetan Buddhist history, there was no written language prior to its introduction. Wrong! ZhangZhung was spoken and written for thousand of years. Archeological evidence verifies a 4,000 year old Tibetan linguistic legacy. ANYWAY, for the benefit of all sentient beings, this book really stinks. Tashi Delek!