Advice from H.E. Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche

On March 29th, 2020 a video was posted online on YouTube with His Eminence Yongdzin Rinpoche's Advice for Western sangha's concerning the Corona-virus. Here is an edited transcript.

Hello! I am Tenzin Namdak. I want to speak to all the Shenten and Yungdrung Bon sangha members and to share with you that nowadays there are contagious diseases all over the world. Many people are very worried, and indeed one should worry. But, it is not necessary to let oneself be overwhelmed by the worry. I would like to ask all members to not think too much and don't worry excessively. Before a problem arises, it is not necessary to worry too much. Instead, listen to the advice of knowledgeable and concerned government and medical people. Keep oneself in isolation/social distance, avoid travelling and the many activities that may mean exposing yourself or others to the risk of spreading and/or catching the virus. It is necessary to carefully listen, obey and exercise the advice about prevention of the disease.

Especially for practitioners, I have already many times taught the Healing practice of Sipa Gyalmo/ Yeshe Walmo. I hope everyone of you has had the transmission and instruction of this practice for individual protection and prevention of diseases. The mantra of healing is OM A BHI YA NAG PO BE SÖ SO HA. While reciting this mantra you should visualize Yeshe Walmo in the space in front of you, as illustrated in the image. The vase she holds is full of nectar and she pours a stream of nectar into your bowl, which you should have placed in front of you, filled with clean water. Imagine and feel that your bowl is filled with healing nectar — that

the water in your bowl is infused with healing nectar and blessed by Yeshe Walmo. Reciting the mantra OM A BHI YA NAG PO BE SÖ SO HA many times, not only for short periods, but every day for quite a long time, should be done before any disease actually arrives. You should do this yourself and you should also advise others to recite the mantra. Doing these things can prevent the spread of the epidemic. This is said by Sipa Gyalmo herself and by the lineage master from whom I heard this teaching.

Also, some Tibetan medical people have produced a preventive herbal medicine called Nagpo Gujor. This powdered herbal medicine is wrapped in a piece of cloth, as a sachet. This should be kept around your neck and you should smell the herb every morning, and at any other time.

You should write the healing mantra OM A BHI YA NAG PO BE SÖ SO HA three times on a piece of any color cloth of about one square foot. Hang it at a high place, open to the sky, such as the rooftop of your house, like prayer flag. This can help to protect the whole area visible to the flag from the disease. You may also wear a protective amulet containing the healing mantra and seal of Sipa Gyalmo. There may be someone who knows or has experience making this who can help you.

All of these actions of hanging flags etc should be done along with recitation of the mantra and visualization of Yeshe Walmo holding a vase of nectar-water, so that the nectar-water in the vase falls into the water in your bowl, thus mixing together your water and the nectar-water of Yeshe Walmo. This blessed water should be used for purification by drinking or washing with it.

Followers who are capable of doing these practices should try them precisely as described. The main thing is to visualize Sipa Gyalmo with devotion and recite the mantra as much as you can. She said that reciting the mantra millions of times is important. The more times you recite the mantra, the better. But you should do it intensively, not only loosely remembering of it and saying the mantra only few times. Doing this is much better than too much worrying. That is what I wanted to say. Thank you!