Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche - The Nine Ways of Bon

The Nine Ways of Bon

The second classification, the Nine Ways of Bon (bon theg pa rim dgu) is as follows—the:

• Way of Prediction (phyva gshen theg pa) codifies ritual, prognostication, sortilege and astrology;
• Way of the Visual World (snang shen theg pa) details the psychophysical Universe;
• Way of Illusion ('phrul gshen theg pa) explains the rites for the dispersal of adverse thoughtforms, entities and energies;
• Way of Existence (srid gshen theg pa) details funeral and death rituals;
• Way of a Lay Follower (dge bsnyen theg pa) contains the ten principles for wholesome activity;
• Way of a Monk (drang srong theg pa) codifies monastic rules and regulations;
• Way of Primordial Sound (a dkar theg pa) charts the integration of an exalted practitioner into the mandala of highest enlightenment;
• Way of Primordial Shen, (ye gshen theg pa) renders the guidelines for seeking a true tantric master and the commitments (dam tshigs, parallel to the Sanskrit samaya) that bind a disciple to his tantric master; and finally,
• Way of Supreme Natural Condition (bla med theg pa), or The Way of Dzogchen.

The nine ways can also be classified into three groups, the:

• Causal Ways (rgyu'i theg pa) comprises the first four of the above;
• Resultant Ways ('bras bu'i theg pa) includes the fifth through eighth; and
• Unsurpassable Way or the Way of Dzogchen (khyad par chen po'i theg pa or rdzogs pa chen po, abbreviated rdzogs chen) is the ninth.