What is Tsi Dup Yang Bod?

Tsi Dup Yang Bod is an ancient energetic healing practice from ZhangZhung, an aspect of these precious teachings is known as Reiki here in the United States. Where is ZhangZhung? ZhangZhung (also spelled ShangShung) was an ancient kingdom in central Asia whose area ran from eastern Iran into central Tibet. It is the ancestral home of the spiritual tradition known as Bon, and the people who practice it are
known as Bonpo. They are a lineage from a Buddha who lived prior to Shakyamuni, which originates with Tonpa Shenrab. The Dalai Lama recognizes Bon as one of the main schools of Tibetan spiritual thought even though the Buddha of the lineage goes back to Tonpa Shenrab. Archeologists have discovered remnants of this ancient civilization of ShangShung in the Garuda Valley in the upper Sutlej river basin west of Mt. Kailash, and throughout the Changthang. To learn more about this google John Vincent Bellezza.

When I received my Reiki II certification in Usui Shiki Ryoho in 1998 the instructor, Donna DeNomme, told us that Reiki originated in Tibet but the history ended there, that was as much information as I got. Its exact origin in Tibet seemed vague.

In 1999 I took a workshop on Sacred Sound from Mitch Nurr and Two Horses Running who were Bon practitioners. Its now 9 years later and Mitch and Two Horses are helping to coordinate and host the Tsi Dup Tang Bod training to be held in May 2008 in Andover, Mass. and which will be taught by Chongtul Rinpoche. This is an incredibly exciting opportunity! I highly recommend that you attend, if possible.

Since 1998 I have had an interesting travel through the schools of Tibetan Buddhism, which led me to take an empowerment called the Red Garuda practice for healing. The empowerment was in Sante Fe, NM in January 2004, and one of the lamas in the party of teachers was Chongtul Rinpoche, along with Nyima Dakpa Rinpoche.

I also saw Chongtul Rinpoche again at two later teachings given by His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima, the 33rd Menri Trizin. Chongtul is now 40 years old. When he was 23 he was awarded the geshe degree, the highest level of education in Tibetan philosophy equivalent to an American Ph.D. Chongtul Rinpoche was born in Himachal Pradesh, India. He has been identified as a reincarnated lama from Kyong Tsang Monastery in eastern Tibet. He has received all of the Bön initiations, transmissions, and the teachings from His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima and Lopon Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.

Chongtul Rinpoche taught this very special transmission of the Tsi Dup Yang Bod for the first time in the United States in May 2008. He will be back next year to offer more.