Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche on the Practice of the Five Warrior Syllables

Book cover

The following practice was designed by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche.

Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

It utilizes what are known in Bön as the Five Warrior Syllables (Pa-wo du-nga).

Tenzin Rinpoche explains,

“The reason these seed syllables are called warriors is because they are powerful and indestructible. They are associated with the Five Wisdoms—and it is wisdom that is able to penetrate fear and ignorance to cut the roots of samsara.”

Rinpoche adds,

“Our negative emotions, even physical illness, are a result of ignorance. Using sound in this way can be very healing on many levels.”

Sing the refuge and bodhicitta prayers.

Find the ground to rest within yourself.

The Third Eye

Draw your attention to the third eye.

Clearly focus there, feeling openness, spaciousness and changelessness, with no boundaries. Be aware of that space and rest in it.

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Sing the seed syllable A (pronounced “ah”) three, seven, or twenty-one times, clearly feeling the vibration. Then rest within the changeless space.

The Throat Chakra

Draw the attention to the throat chakra.

Sing the refuge prayer, requesting blessings to open the chakra, dissolving any blocks and obstacles to connecting with the ceaseless, pure potentiality of the four immeasurables: love, compassion, joy, and equanimity.

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Sing the seed syllable OM three, seven, or twenty-one times as you feel the spontaneous perfection of these qualities. Then rest in the space of pure potentiality.

The Heart Chakra

Draw the attention to the heart chakra.

Sing the refuge prayer, requesting blessings to open the heart and dissolve any blocks to connecting with the quality you most need to manifest for your realization and well-being.

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Sing the seed syllable HUNG three, seven, or twenty-one times as you feel this quality vividly awakened in your heart. Then, rest in that awakened quality.

The Navel Chakra

Draw the attention to the navel chakra.

Sing the refuge prayer, requesting blessings to open the chakra and remove any obstacles blocking the ripening of this quality.

Sing the seed syllable RAM three, seven, or twenty-one times as you feel the quality fully active, defined, and ripened, as if it could burst forth in your life. Then, rest in this fully ripened quality.

The Secret Chakra

Draw the attention to the secret chakra, the chakra of action and union.

Sing the refuge prayer, requesting blessings to open the secret chakra and remove any blockages or hindrances to fully manifesting the quality that has been cultivated.

Book cover Sing the seed syllable DZA three, seven, or twenty-one times as you imagine this quality fully manifesting in your life. Then, rest in the fruition, the complete expression of this quality.

Dedicate the merit of this practice to all beings.

For more information:

Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, a lama in the Bön tradition of Tibet, presently resides in Charlottesville, Virginia. He is the founder and director of Ligmincha Institute, an organization dedicated to the study and practice of the teachings of the Bön tradition. He was born in Amritsar, India, after his parents fled the Chinese invasion of Tibet. He received training from both Buddhist and Bön teachers, attaining the degree of Geshe, the highest academic degree of traditional Tibetan culture. He has been in the United States since 1991 and has taught widely in Europe and America.