On this autumn equinox, we observed the United Nations International Day of Peace with a group of loving souls on the One World Platform. One of the speakers was the spiritual leader of the Yungdrung Bon tradition. The current 34th Menri Trizin is His Holiness Lungtok Dawa Dargyal Rinpoche. Bon is the indigenous spiritual tradition of Tibet, predating Buddhism, with unique cosmology, rituals, and teachings that continue to thrive today.
His Holiness's talk was spoken in Tibetan. I encourage you to listen to the vibration of his voice during this 5-minute video and only after listening, to read the English translation below.
Allow yourself to receive the teaching at the level of vibration.
His Holiness's talk was spoken in Tibetan. I encourage you to listen to the vibration of his voice during this 5-minute video and only after listening, to read the English translation below.
Allow yourself to receive the teaching at the level of vibration.
World Peace Day Message from His Holiness 34th Gyalwa Menri Trizin Rinpoche, Worldwide Spiritual Head of the Tibetan Bon Tradition
With deep respect, I extend my warmest wishes of loving-kindness and good fortune to religious leaders across the world, to the leaders of every nation, and to all the precious people of this earth, on this World Peace Day.
As we mark this day, it is worth pausing to remember the wars, the conflicts, and the tensions between peoples and faiths that still trouble our world. When we speak of “world peace,” we do not simply mean treaties between nations or talks between governments. Peace must begin with a change within each of our own hearts.
As Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche, the founder of Yungdrung Bön, taught again and again, we are called to hold compassion and loving-kindness for all sentient beings. The roots of this world’s conflict and suffering do not lie in some enemy outside us, but in the three poisons within our own minds: anger, craving, and ignorance. Our pride, our envy, our fear — these are the real wars we carry inside.
Speaking as a follower of Yungdrung Bön, I believe the following matters are essential if we are to bring about true peace.
First, inner peace is the foundation of outer peace. Laying down weapons alone cannot bring real peace. If there is no peace within each person’s heart, there can be no peace in the family, in society, or in the nation. So, peace must begin in our own minds.
Second, protecting the natural world is closely connected with world peace. According to the teachings of Yungdrung Bön, the mountains, lakes, and forests of the natural world are home to countless non-human beings — nāga spirits, earth-lords, and local guardian deities among them. When we damage or pollute the natural environment, these beings are said to bring great harm upon us, in the form of sickness and disaster.
This is why, since ancient times, Tibetans have cherished and protected the natural world as an expression of their faith. Today, we may no longer hold that same faith-rooted reverence for nature, but because it remains the very ground on which all of humanity depends, we must still protect it. If we fail to treasure and care for our environment and allow it to be destroyed, climate change and natural disasters will only grow more severe than they already are. Everyone must take this seriously. Without peace between the world and the beings who live within it, there can be no peace for humankind.
Third, we must practice loving-kindness and patience in daily life. Compassion and loving-kindness are not signs of weakness; they are the greatest strength of all. When anger rises, pause and look inward before you speak, and take a breath or two to think clearly. When others cause us harm, meet it not with harm in return, but with patience and understanding. Speak gently, in ways that help others, and offer whatever small acts of kindness we can.
Finally, peace cannot be reached through prayer alone. It is something we must practice, day by day, in how we act, how we speak, how we think, and how we regard the world around us. When peace takes root in even one person’s heart, it touches those around them, and in this way, little by little, peace can spread across the whole world.
So from this day forward, may each of us begin within our own hearts, holding this world with love and cherishing the natural environment, so that the light of peace may shine forth. May sickness and conflict throughout the world come to an end, and may great fortune, wellbeing, and peace come to all.
Thank you.
With deep respect, I extend my warmest wishes of loving-kindness and good fortune to religious leaders across the world, to the leaders of every nation, and to all the precious people of this earth, on this World Peace Day.
As we mark this day, it is worth pausing to remember the wars, the conflicts, and the tensions between peoples and faiths that still trouble our world. When we speak of “world peace,” we do not simply mean treaties between nations or talks between governments. Peace must begin with a change within each of our own hearts.
As Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche, the founder of Yungdrung Bön, taught again and again, we are called to hold compassion and loving-kindness for all sentient beings. The roots of this world’s conflict and suffering do not lie in some enemy outside us, but in the three poisons within our own minds: anger, craving, and ignorance. Our pride, our envy, our fear — these are the real wars we carry inside.
Speaking as a follower of Yungdrung Bön, I believe the following matters are essential if we are to bring about true peace.
First, inner peace is the foundation of outer peace. Laying down weapons alone cannot bring real peace. If there is no peace within each person’s heart, there can be no peace in the family, in society, or in the nation. So, peace must begin in our own minds.
Second, protecting the natural world is closely connected with world peace. According to the teachings of Yungdrung Bön, the mountains, lakes, and forests of the natural world are home to countless non-human beings — nāga spirits, earth-lords, and local guardian deities among them. When we damage or pollute the natural environment, these beings are said to bring great harm upon us, in the form of sickness and disaster.
This is why, since ancient times, Tibetans have cherished and protected the natural world as an expression of their faith. Today, we may no longer hold that same faith-rooted reverence for nature, but because it remains the very ground on which all of humanity depends, we must still protect it. If we fail to treasure and care for our environment and allow it to be destroyed, climate change and natural disasters will only grow more severe than they already are. Everyone must take this seriously. Without peace between the world and the beings who live within it, there can be no peace for humankind.
Third, we must practice loving-kindness and patience in daily life. Compassion and loving-kindness are not signs of weakness; they are the greatest strength of all. When anger rises, pause and look inward before you speak, and take a breath or two to think clearly. When others cause us harm, meet it not with harm in return, but with patience and understanding. Speak gently, in ways that help others, and offer whatever small acts of kindness we can.
Finally, peace cannot be reached through prayer alone. It is something we must practice, day by day, in how we act, how we speak, how we think, and how we regard the world around us. When peace takes root in even one person’s heart, it touches those around them, and in this way, little by little, peace can spread across the whole world.
So from this day forward, may each of us begin within our own hearts, holding this world with love and cherishing the natural environment, so that the light of peace may shine forth. May sickness and conflict throughout the world come to an end, and may great fortune, wellbeing, and peace come to all.
Thank you.
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