How Butter Lamps Are Offered In Bön

The butter lamp. The butter lamp, mar mé in Tibetan, is one of the five daily offerings of Yungdrung Bön, together with water, incense, food and flowers. The source gives its essence as an offering of light and its traditional form as seven butter lamps, with candles as an alternative. Alexander Berzin notes that Bön and the Tibetan Buddhist traditions all offer water bowls, butter lamps and incense.

The tengwa prayer beads. Ma Tri is one of the three heart mantras of Bön. Olmo Ling calls it the mantra of compassion, which clears the karmic conditions that cause rebirth in cyclic existence. Bön prayer beads are called tengwa. They most commonly have 108 beads, are held in the left hand, and the thumb moves the beads one by one inwards, towards the body. According to Gyalshen Institute, lay practitioners recite each heart mantra at least 108 times a day, and transmission from a qualified Bön lama is essential. For that reason the library names the mantra and does not print it.

Juniper sang smoke. Sang is the smoke offering, the first of the four generosities practised daily. The smoke is traditionally juniper. Through the intent and prayer of the practitioner it becomes an offering that fulfils the needs of all four classes of guests. Yeru Bön Center notes that it is done early in the morning, cleanses negative karma and uplifts the life force. Olmo Ling also describes the Bön heart mantra Du Tri Su as a practice for transforming obstacles.

The lungta prayer flags. Lungta means wind horse. Its image is printed in the very centre of the prayer flag and is the most prevalent symbol on flags. According to Gyalshen Institute, when a person's lungta is low obstacles arise often, and when it rises things go more smoothly. The Ligmincha newsletter notes that the flags use five colours for the five elements: yellow, blue, red, green, white. Flags are consecrated and then raised while taking refuge and feeling sincere compassion. The icon shows the five colours in the order the source lists them.

The sacred mountain and its circuit. The long life practice of Bön is tied to Tsewang Rigdzin. Ligmincha International describes it as preserving the lifespan. Another Bön source records that circumambulating the sacred mountain Kongpo Bönri and praying from the heart can purify negativity and bring a long life. That mountain is walked counter-clockwise, the Bön way. The icon of a mountain with a counter-clockwise arrow is the library's own drawing. It does not depict Tsewang Rigdzin.

Tiers of butter lamps. Ligmincha International writes that the 49 days after death are the time when the consciousness of the departed moves through the bardo, the transition between death and rebirth. The family lights 108 butter lamps or tea lights continuously for three days and nights, or as many as possible if 108 is not feasible, and may recite the Ma Tri mantra to support the departed. Triten Norbutse Monastery has a rotating metal stupa holding 108 butter lamps, which serves both to purify the environment and to support the transition of the deceased towards a higher rebirth. The icon simplifies this to three tiers of lamps and does not follow the real shape of that stupa.

The pecha scripture. Sa Le Ö is one of the three heart mantras of Bön. Olmo Ling writes that the heart essence of this practice is to realise the true nature of the mind. On a Bön altar the texts represent enlightened Speech and occupy the highest position, above the statues. The icon is a loose-leaf scripture wrapped in cloth, in the Tibetan book format. The library names the mantra and does not print it.

Seven water bowls. Chutor is the water offering, the second of the four generosities, done in the mid-morning. Yeru Bön Center notes that it removes karmic impurities and speeds healing from physical and mental illness that may have been caused by karma. The icon shows the seven water bowls of the altar, the daily water offering: seven bowls in a straight line, a grain of rice apart, filled from left to right. The altar bowls and the chutor rite are two different things, both offerings of water.