Flu and Bon

This H1N1 flu situation (the so-called swine flu, or Mexican flu) has the world nervous just at present, with otherwise responsible leaders slinging rhetoric from a 1950s threat-from-outer-space movie.

I am of the opinion that the Bon tradition has a very effective means for dealing with such matters, which is found in the healing practices of the transmundane guardian deity Sidpa Gyalmo. Unlike the guardian deities of Buddhism, she is not of Indian origin, but comes to us from the pre-Buddhist pantheon of Zhang-zhung.

I think this is definitely the right time and place for Sidpa Gyalmo, and therefore take some considerable interest upon learning that Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung is headed for Mexico, May 7th through the 10th. He is in the U.S.A. just at present, and will head out to Germany after Mexico.

The practice lineage held and transmitted by Lopon Tenzin Namdak, in my opinion (and it is just my opinion), probably reflects the first such Tibetan practice to be addressed specifically to epidemics (among its other benefits), and thus we need to examine this very closely.

If you want to see (and hear) her mantra, click here.

John Reynolds has translated the rite as The Healing Practice for Sidpa Gyalmo, and this is available from Bon centers all over the world. There is also a commentary by Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, entitled Discovering Sacred Waters: The Healing Power of the Water Element in the Bon Buddhist Tradition of Tibet. 

Empowerment is needed before obtaining both of these.