Talk on the Ancient Bonpo Deity Zhang-zhung Meri by John Myrdhin Reynolds

    Walchen Gekhod, also known as Zhang-zhung Meri, was the original indigenous god of Mt. Kailas, and was the patron deity of the ancient Zhang-zhung kingdom in Northwestern Tibet. As a Yidam, or Tantric meditation deity, he is now regarded by the Bonpo Lamas as the manifestation of an enlightened being and is closely associated with the Bonpo tradition of Dzogchen practice known as the Zhang-zhung Nyan-gyud. Thus, he belongs to the highest class of Bonpo Tantra. This talk by a scholar and translator of many Bonpo Dzogchen texts and a long-time student of Lopon Tenzin Namdak, will provide some background in terms of the history and literature for this Bonpo cycle of meditation and ritual.