Bo and Bon : Ancient Shamanic Traditions of Siberia and Tibet in their Relation to the Teachings of a Central Asian Buddha/Dmitry Ermakov. Kathmandu, Vajra Pub., 2008, lx, 828 p., figs., maps, (pbk). ISBN 9937-506-11-3.

    Contents: Acknowledgements. Foreword. Events that led to the writing of this book. Author's preface. Introduction. 1. Historical backdrop to Bon and Bo: I. The lands of Bon. II. The lands of Bo Murgel. 2. Sacred geography of Lake Baikal. 3. Different types of Bon. 4. Cosmology: I. Cosmological model of Buryatian Bo Murgel. II. Bonpo cosmological model. III. Common aspects of the cosmologies of Bo Murgel and Bon. 5. Classes of Gods and Spirits. 6. Gods of the prehistoric Bon of Eurasia in the religions of ancient Central Asia. 7. Transmission and initiation in Buryatian Bo Murgel. 8. Different types of Bo, their functions and ritual gear. 9. Cult of the sky. 10. Heavenly deer. 11. Purification rituals. 12. Offering rituals: I. Ritual offerings in Buryatian Bo Murgel. II. Lurol festival in rebkong. III. Comparative study of the offering techniques in Yungdrung Bon and Buryatian Bo Murgel. 13. The soul: I. Soul and related concepts. II. Post-mortem fate of the soul. 14. Healing and magic: I. Theoretical base. II. Divination, diagnostics and healing techniques divination. III. Buryatian Bo and Tibetan medium-healers and oracles. IV. Retrieving and ransoming the soul. V. Exorcism of negativities connected with death. VI. Destructive magic. 15. Spread of Bon in Eurasia. Appendix. Glossary of Buryatian, Tibetan and Sanskrit terms and concepts. Bibliography. Index.

    "The black background symbolizes the ultimate nature of phenomena (bon nyid) which cannot be defined in any way whatsoever.

    The Wisdom Khyung (Garuda) at the top symbolizes the body of perfect enjoyment (longs pyod rdzogs pa'i sku).

    The body of manifold multipurpose emanation (cir yang sprul pa'i sku) in the rainbow circle is Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche, the Buddha of Yungdrung Bon who manifested on this earth in 16,017 B.C. according to traditional Bonpo sources, and taught beings countless ways which lead out of samsara.

    The silhouette of the bird of five colours swooping down symbolizes the five lights which manifest out of the Primordial nature and turn into the five elements which further develop into the vision of phenomenal universe.

    The tongues of flame just above the bird's silhouette symbolize the spiritual knowledge and transmission of Be Murgel brought to earth from the realm of the Tengeri Sky-gods by the white-headed eagle, and underline the vital importance of the fire element in the offering rituals of Bo Murgel and Domai Bon.

    Below that is middle world of the phenomenal universe with Lake Baikal in the foreground. The lake is the symbol of the archaic spiritual and cultural traditions of the Eurasian continent and is flanked by the figure of a Buryatian Bo on the left and a Tibetan Domai Bonpo on the right -- the priests of the Prehistoric Bon of Eurasia who mediate between the beings of the Three worlds (sa gsum) of Samsara in order to bring harmony, happiness and prosperity to the people of the earth." (jacket)

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