Bon — Tibet's Indigenous Tradition, Dzogchen, and the Nature of Mind
The oldest surviving spiritual tradition of Tibet, predating Buddhism's arrival by centuries. Bon contains a complete cosmological system, shamanic ritual practices, and — most philosophically significant — a mature Dzogchen teaching on the nature of mind that is structurally identical to the Dzogchen found in Nyingma Buddhism. Whether this represents independent development or mutual influence remains one of Tibetan studies' central questions.
Dzogchen: the great perfection
Dzogchen is the highest teaching of both Bon and the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. Its central claim: the nature of mind (rigpa) is already primordially pure, always and already awakened. The obscurations that hide this nature are adventitious — they were never actually part of the mind.
Liberation is not achieved by practice but by recognition: the moment of directly recognising rigpa as one's own nature. Practice in Dzogchen is a preparation for recognition, not a cause of liberation. This distinguishes it sharply from gradual path traditions.
Foundational concepts
Key thinkers
Legendary founder of Bon
The nature of mind is primordially pure — recognition is the path.
In dialogue with
Primary sources
Heart Drops of Dharmakaya
Primary Bon Dzogchen text — the most systematic modern exposition of Bon's 'great perfection' teaching.
Sources are drawn from indexed primary texts and traditional commentarial literature.
Related traditions