"If there is understanding, the five pure lights give rise to the five pure visions, and wisdom begins to develop the pure body. In this way, the five pure lights give rise to the five pure elements, which give rise to the five internal elements, then successively to the five external elements, the five sense consciousness, the five sense organs, the five sense objects, the five bodies, and the five wisdoms. This process leads to nirvana or final, total realization. But if there is distraction and lack of understanding, the five pure lights become gross and start to transform into the five coarse elements, then successively into the five impure organs, five deluded sense consciousness, the five deluded sense organs and so on, finally giving rise to the five poisons or five passions, the five negative actions, and the illnesses derived from these. Each passion is connected with the light of a particular color and element. This is the process of continuous transmigration in samsara."......Tenzin Wangyal.

Note: This 5 Mt. system, unlike the organized Tibetan Schools, is not guru based, but founded on the principle of  becoming spiritually illuminated and liberated on one's own, rather than an exterior guru. That being said, good advice and guidance should be acepted from any quarter.
Rituals: The major ritual influence of this season is the Bonpo, with some Nyingma influence.
Symbolic Script: Tibetan.
Color: Red
Principles: Light, warmth, activity, time, transformation, change.
Symbolic Grain/Legume: Buckwheat (Tibet), Flax (India), Quinoa, Kaniwa, Amaranth (Andes)
Art:  Bonpo and Nyingma Thagkas, Tibetan Buddhist Bon Statuary.
Historical Movements:

• Zhang Zhung (Shenrab Miwo); Old Bon, New Bon, Naxi, Dragon Text.
• Indus, Harrapan, Yangtze Cultures, Green Man, Shiva, Shakti, Shaivites, Shaktism; Jains, (Mahavira, Buddha, Sidharta); Sikhs, (Nanak).
• Padmasambhava/Nyingma 8th c CE; Yeshe Tzogyal/Mother Lineage; Ngakpas.
• Kagyu 11th c (Meditation/True Nature); Sakya 1073 CE (Develop/Creation Stages); Gelug 1409 CE (Study/discipline).
• Dzogchen (Semde); Dzogchen (Longde); Dzogchen (Menngagde).

PURPOSE on 3 LEVELS

Problem/Avoidances	Beginning Level	Intermediate Level	Advanced Level
Firerstar: Agression, harm, bickering, harsh words, hate, uselessness, lack of purpose or value. Badly channeled aggression, arguments, conflicts, destructive gossip, manipulative speech. Laziness, inactivity, living off others.	Properly channeled physical energy and/or agresssion. Metamorphis of physical form. Carrying ones fair share, contributing, assisting.	Channeling energy and effort into aquiring skills, tantric transformation of obstacles and hinderances. Being productive, industrious, helpful.	Mastering a trade, career, self transformation,  Dzogchen.

SEASONAL OVERVIEW

• ABSTRACT: A value of the Fire Path lies in its insight into non duality. Achieving a Dzogchenian Unified View as taught by Yeshey Tsogyal. Reconnecting to one's True Self and interacting with others on that deeper level.
• GOAL: Abiding in Dzogchen. Living in non duality.
• PROBLEM: Dualistic viewpoints engender suffering.
• REASON: Dichotomy of the materialsitc world creates differentiation in worldview.
• HISTORY: Existant since the beginning....
• REMEDY:  Employing rational, reasoning and exercises held dear in Dzogchen.
• METHODOLOGY: A five fortnight practice period designed to go, step by step, thru the various levels that lead toward Dzogchen.
• RYTHYMN: The 72 day practice schedule - 5 & 15 day periods:
• APPROACH:  Let the practices and teachings be adapted to a coed Monastery/Farm Collective/Family/Isolated individual: 4 pronged program applicable to each type of situation and enviroment.
• EXAMPLES: Yeshey Tsogyal. Shinrab Miwo, Padmasambhava and others.
• RECORDS: Bonpo Book of the Dead (+Oral Tradition from Zhang Zhung & misc Dzogchen & Bon);   Life and Visions of Yeshe Tsogyal (+Advice from Lotus Born, Juniper Ridge & misc Vajrayana, some Sikh, Jain & Shaivite); Collection of Studies on Bon
• WEEDING: The recognition and avoidance of pitfalls found in history and texts: Movement away from guru adoration, insane repitition of Ngondro exercies, etc.
• PROCEDURE: During each fortnight let the practicioner utilize the 5 Treasures of Shinrab:
• CONCLUSION:  Upon the conclusion of the fortnight an evaluation of progress should be made made
• INSIGHTS: Notes for future attempts in the following year are advantageous
• PARADOX: The enigmas of this facet and formula of transcendance
• WARNINGS: Avoid self delusion and ego aggrandizement arising from any spiritual experiences or profound understandings during the fornight.
• ENDING:  The closure of the period, giving away merit, owning change, fortnight fast, reset/reboot

Festival/Mar 27 (+-7 days):  We begin our journey with the Bonpos of Tibet. We shy not away from the primitive views of reality that once dominated this region because the respect for Mt Gods, Lake Goddesses and the Nagas (Ecology), as well as field to kitchen altar associations, albeit not scientifically valid, is nevertheless psychologically of use in sounding the subconscious. Modern man, divorced from nature, benefits from consciously working at reestablishing this connection between conscious and subconscious realms. Honoring mountain gods, lake and river goddesses, building shrines and altars in various zones is a way to crystallize their inward and outward connectivity. The altars being outward expressions of inward focal points or complexes, bringing all together. Perception of mystery, of unknown unseen power -  Expressing the oneness of everything and establishing the subconscious connection between the outer and inner world. Tantric path of alteration within Bon and Vajrayana. Inner transmutation leading to Dzogchenian unity. Everything outward is also in us, everything is one.
 

Feast/Apr 11: The male-female, yin-yang side of creation. The perception of two distinct expressions or characters of existence.  Shiva & Shakta union. Acknowledging the union of opposites in natural phenomenon, human conception, and metaphysical practice. Devotional; worship. Feeding people. Courage as warriors. (Celibacy as a deviation away from this reality.) . The oldest strata of Shiva and Shakti worship is associated with the first 5 day period of the 2nd Fortnight, The Jains and their 5 Jain Vows with the 2nd, and the Sikhs with the last third of the 2nd Fortnight.
 

Feast/May 11:The 3rd fortnight focuses in on later schools of Tibet - the so called New Translation schools of Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug.
 

Feast/May 26: The fifth and last fortnight of the Spring Season is associated with Dzogchen and its 3 expressions.