Bön scriptures teach that praising the primordial buddha Shenlha Okar and intoning his longevity mantra removes the obstacle of untimely death, extends sovereign life, and with white light dispels ignorance. On the plateau, parents practice Shenlha Okar for a ailing child, children for aged parents—the plainest love: not for wealth, only to walk a few more stretches together.

Bön practices Shenlha Okar through Tonpa Shenrab's view that "life is the outer expression of merit." The priest intones the heart mantra, seeing white light from the primordial buddha fill the dedicatee's channels, transforming illness and increasing merit and life. This is, through lineage, adding a perpetual lamp for the loved one.

• **Removes illness obstacles.** The practice purifies the karmic and illness causes that hinder life; body and mind grow light.
• **Extends life.** For the living it transforms obstacles and increases merit and longevity, steadying daily life.
• **Increases merit and wisdom.** The primordial buddha also presides over increase; beyond the practice, fortune and wisdom naturally grow.

The Shenlha Okar longevity practice proceeds thus:

• **Set the focus.** Provide for whom and why (a loved one's health / your own longevity); pay respect to Shenlha Okar before the mandala.
• **Mantra and visualization.** The priest intones the heart mantra, seeing white light fill the dedicatee's channels, purifying and increasing.
• **Long-life vase.** Traditionally a long-life vase (consecrated water) serves as the cause for life-extension.
• **Dedicate and settle.** Dedicate all merit solely to the vow—steady merit and life, illness removed.

You need not be present—only wish that one a longer companionship in your heart; the priest's practice adds that lamp for you.