²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²² ²²²² ²²²² ²²²² A SHORT HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF THE BON RELIGION °²²² ²²²² °²²² ²²²²²²°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°²²² ²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²²² THE FOUNDER AND HIS TEACHINGS: PART THREE The doctrines which were taught by Lord Shenrab and recorded in these three accounts are divided into two systems. One classification is called Gozhi Dzonga (sGo-bzhi mdzod-lnga): "The Four Portals and the Treasury as Fifth". These are: 1) Chabkar (Chab-dkar): White Waters; it contains the esoteric or higher tantric practices. 2) Chabnag (Chab-nag): Black Waters; includes narratives and various rites, magic and ordinary. 3) Phanyul ('Phan-yul): The Land of Phan: explains the monastic rules and gives exposition of philosophical concepts. 4) Ponse (dPon-yul): The Lordly Guide; it contains the Great Perfection practices (rDzogs-chen). 5) Thothog (mTho-thog): The Treasury; it comprises the essential aspects of all the Four Portals. The second classification is called Thegpa Rimgu'i Bon (Theg-pa-rim-dgu'i Bon), "The Bon of the Nine Successive Stages [or simply] 'The Nine Ways of Bon'". The first four are the cause (rGyud-kyi theg-pa) the next four are the ways of result ('Bras-bu'i theg-pa) and the ninth is the Great Perfection (rDzogs-chen). Examined individually their subject matters are as follows: 1) The Way of the Shen of Prediction: Mo (prediction), rTsis (astrology) gTo (ritual) and dPhyad (examination of causes). 2) The way of the Shen of the Visual World: nature and origin of entities. 3) The Way of the Shen of Illusion: For disposing of adverse powers. 4) The Way of the Shen of Existence: Bardo and guiding one through death. 5) The Way of the Virtuous Followers: Guides those who follow this path. 6) The Way of the Monkhood: Rules of monastic discipline. 7) The Way of Pure Sound: Higher tantric practice, ritual and mandala. 8) The Way of the Primeval Shen: Matters of practice and behaviour. 9) The Supreme Way: Attainment of rDzogs-chen, the Great Perfection.