'''Tagzig Olmo Lung Ring'''
[1] is a
non-dual spiritual
realm (
plane or
dimension) of the
Bön tradition which resides beyond
dualism. It is understood to be a timeless perfected realm where peace and joy are the very fabric of being.
The realm of ''Tagzig Olmo Lung Ring'' is
fabled to be located to the west of
Mount Kailash and shaped like an eight-petaled
lotus and divided into four regions: inner, middle, outer and
boundary area. The sky of this realm is likened to an eight-spoked wheel (refer
Dharmachakra) and the land itself is fragrant and coloured by beautiful
flora and landscaping,
chorten and snow-capped mountains.
Central to ''Tagzig Olmo Lung Ring'' is '''Yungdrung Gutsek''', a pyramidal-shaped mountain serving as
axis mundi with nine Yungdrungs
[2] (refer
sauwastika) ascending like a staircase evocative of the Nine Ways (or stages) of Bon. The four faces of the pyramidal mountain, face the four
cardinal directions. At the corner-joints of ''Yungdrung Gutsek'' (
cross-quarter directions) four rivers flow from
simulacra of
archetypal thoughtforms:
★ from the simulacrum of a
snowlion the river '''Narazara''' flows from the
East;
★ from the simulacrum of a
horse the river '''Pakshi''' flows from the
North;
★ from the simulacrum of a
peacock the river '''Gyim Shang''' flows from the
West; and
★ from the simulacrum of an
elephant the river '''Sindhu''' flows from the
South.
Scholarly view and retort
Mount Kailash of northwestern Tibet has been equated with ''Tagzig Olmo Lung Ring'' by some scholars. The Bönpo contend with this as ''Tagzig Olmo Lung Ring'' is not a physical locality that can be visited by humans in the state of dualism. In order to access ''Tagzig Olmo Lung Ring'', one must diligently practice spiritual disciplines, purify the
bodymind and
mindstream of all obscurations and realise the non-dual state. Bönpo pray with the
heartmind to take birth in ''Tagzig Olmo Lung Ring'' as this may only occur post-enlightenment. Mount Kailash is accessible by those in a dualistic and non-realised state and is therefore proof to the Bönpo that Mount Kailash and ''Tagzig Olmo Lung Ring'' are qualitatively and essentially, different realms. Historical Bön texts state explicitly that the sacred mountain of Mount Kailash is central to the kingdom of
Zhangzhung.
Notes
1 ''Olmo Lung Ring'' is part of the land of ''Tazig''. They have been conflated for economy.
2 ''Yungdrung'' is a
polyvalent symbol that may be understood to personify
dharmakaya and the everlasting and indestructible essence-quality of the
mindstream.
References
★ Geshe
Nyima Dakpa Rinpoche (2006). ''Opening the Door to Bon''. Snow Lion Publications. ISBN: 1559392460. Source: http://www.snowlionpub.com/samples/OPDOBO_Ch1.pdf (accessed: Thursday January 18, 2007)