Bo and Bon: Ancient Shamanic Traditions of Siberia and Tibet in their Relation to the Teachings of a Central Asian Buddha

The black background symbolizes the ultimate nature of phenomena (bon nyid) which cannot be defined in any way whatsoever.The Wisdom Khyung (Garuda) at the top symbolizes the body of perfect enjoyment (longs pyod rdzogs pa’i sku).The body of manifold multipurpose emanation (cir yang sprul pa’i sku) in the rainbow circle is Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche, the Buddha of Yungdrung Bon who manifested on this earth in 16,017 B.C. according to traditional Bonpo sources, and taught beings countless ways which lead out of samsara.The silhouette of the bird of five colours swooping down symbolizes the five lights which manifest out of the Primordial nature and turn into the five elements which further develop into the vision of phenomenal universe.The tongues of flame just above the bird’s silhouette symbolize the spiritual knowledge and transmission of Be Murgel brought to earth from the realm of the Tengeri Sky-gods by the white-headed eagle, and underline the vital importance of the fire element in the offering rituals of Bo Murgel and Domai Bon.Below that is middle world of the phenomenal universe with Lake Baikal in the foreground. The lake is the symbol of the archaic spiritual and cultural traditions of the Eurasian continent and is flanked by the figure of a Buryatian Bo on the left and a Tibetan Domai Bonpo on the right — the priests of the Prehistoric Bon of Eurasia who mediate between the beings of the Three worlds (sa gsum) of Samsara in order to bring harmony, happiness and prosperity to the people of the earth.