The root founder of Bön, Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche, manifested from great compassion countless eons ago and revealed the "Nine Ways of Bön" for beings—from worldly rituals to the highest means of realization, guiding layer by layer. His guru yoga is not distant worship of a deity but heart-to-heart communion with this pure lineage of the founder.

Practicing guru yoga is "entering the founder's wisdom with an ordinary mind." The priest sees Tonpa Shenrab as inseparable from Shenlha Okar, resting in the view that life and death are non-dual, and plants a pure cause of alignment with the lineage for the practitioner—or for the loved one you dedicate to. This is lighting a lamp for later generations through the founder's power.

• **Lineage alignment.** Aligning with guru yoga aligns with the entire pure Bön lineage; merit and wisdom grow swiftly.
• **Rooted view.** Directly realizing "life and death are non-dual" lessens daily opposition and suffering; the mind gradually opens.
• **Stable dedication.** Dedication made with the founder as focus, from a pure basis, does not easily scatter.

Guru yoga · Tonpa Shenrab proceeds thus:

• **Set the focus.** Provide for whom and why; before the mandala pay respect to Tonpa Shenrab and Shenlha Okar.
• **Visualize union.** The priest sees the founder as one with Shenlha Okar, intones the guru-yoga mantra, and rests in the non-dual view.
• **Nine-Ways instruction.** Practice per the "Nine Ways of Bön" ritual, planting a pure cause for the dedicatee.
• **Dedicate and settle.** Dedicate all merit solely to the vow, that one align with the lineage and the mind be luminous.

You need not be present—only revere that pure lineage in your heart; the priest's practice connects your lamp for you.