9 Becoming a Bonpo

Abstract

Becoming a BonpoAnother major theme that emerged from my research is the process of becoming a Bonpo.This transition stage of the participants lives is the focus of the following section, which deals with core questions such as: What does it mean to become a Bonpo?When and how does this happen?Do practitioners selfidentify as Bonpos?For the purpose of this research, a Bonpo is defined as someone who follows a Bon teacher and explicitly attempts to follow in the footsteps of the Buddha Tonpa Shenrab.Such a person meditates (or attempts to meditate) using meditation techniques considered to be "Bonpo," is familiar with some of the Bon teachings (teachings that are translations of texts contained in the Bon Kangyur and Katen) and applies some practices in their "normal" lives (i.e., outside retreats in Shenten or other Bon centers).They have engaged in basic practices, such as Refuge and Bodhicitta, or mantra recitations or practices considered to be "more advanced" ones, such as sitting for meditation, including Dzogchen meditation."Bon teachings" can also mean practices that are transmitted by a Bon teacher, even if they do not exactly involve translations of Bon texts but rather interpretations of these texts.Nevertheless, sometimes "practice" and "meditation" are used as synonyms, and in almost all cases Dzogchen practice is mentioned as the center of spiritual practice, the core upon which all other practices are related.It was not possibleand not necessarily relevantfor me to determine whether the participants were actually meditating every day or how significant Bon practices were in their lives, as the distinction between who is and who is not a "practitioner" 510 is artificial and, ultimately, a matter of self-identification.Several stages occur on the path to becoming a Bonpo practitioner, not always in a linear sequence.In their narratives of their journey along this path, almost all participants in one way or another described a certain moment when they felt they needed to find meaning in their life.This was a point in their life when they started seeking something (truth, meaning, a sense to life), sometimes motivated by what they described as a personal crisis or trauma, some-510 The term Buddhist or Bon (or even Dzogchen) "practitioner" has become part of the international Buddhist lexicon and is commonly used in Buddhist and Bon books, websites, etc.It is also sometimes used by some scholars to describe meditators (monastic and lay) and ritual specialists in Asian contexts.See, for example: