Wonders of the Natural Mind: The Essense of Dzogchen in the Native Bon Tradition of Tibet

by Tenzin Wangyal, Dalai Lama XIV (Foreword)

Although the Dzogchen teachings are principally familiar to Westerners through the teachings of the Nyingma school, they also survive in the ancient Bön Religion of Tibet. Wonders of the Natural Mind presents Dzogchen as taught in the Zhang Zhung Nyan Gyud, the fundamental Bön text. The book summarizes the main points of Dzogchen and its relation to the various systems of Bön teaching. In offering these teachings, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche provides the reader with a vivid and engaging portrait of Bön culture as he interweaves the teachings with his personal story and reflections on the practice of Dzogchen in the West.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Meditation, Eastern Philosophy, Nonfiction

222 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche (བསྟན་འཛིན་དབང་རྒྱལ་ bstan 'dzin dbang rgyal) is a teacher (lama) of the Bön Tibetan religious tradition. He is presently based in the United States of America, where he founded the Ligmincha Institute in 1992 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, in order "to preserve the ancient teachings, transmissions and practices of the Bön Buddhist tradition."

The degree of "Geshe" is the highest academic achievement of traditional Tibetan culture, roughly equivalent to a Doctorate in Divinity; it's use in names is similar to that of the Western "Doctor." Similarly, "Rinpoche" is an honorific, meaning "Precious one," frequently bestowed on respected teachers.

Reviews

[Taylor Ellwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book as an excellent introduction to the Bon tradition of Tibet. In this book the author explains what the Bon tradition is and how it differs from Buddhist beliefs and practices. The author explores in depth the foundational beliefs and practices of the Bon tradition while also explaining how they can be meaningfully applied to the life of the practitioner. What I like is that its also clear that this tradition has its own perspective on emptiness, which I found useful for getting a new perspective on it. Overall, I recommend this book for anyone serious about doing internal work.

[Igor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Тензин Вагьял. Чудеса естесственного ума.

[Anthony O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

fascinating

It would be interesting to try to untangle original Bon themes from later Buddhist encrustations.
Fascinating stuff. Great poetry. The nine this the eighteen that. The wrathful deities. The Bardo state. Is any of it true. Who knows. Where’s the evidence. But still fascinating and fruitful traditions.
As for the Buddhist layer. Yeah all is emptiness. Absolute reality is beyond words. Blah blah blah.
Are there enlightened states beyond words?
Maybe, who knows. All this yapping about it though is not a good sign.

[Gianmichael Salvato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another of Tenzin Wangal's brilliant and authoritative works on Dzogchen. We've added this book to the required reading list at Western Buddhist University.

[Bruce Leeds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Work of genius.

[Dreamersemporium]

very good

[Lisa]

very good