• ABSTRACT: The overarching theme and goal
• GOAL:  The specific goal and its symbol of a white letter A.
• PROBLEM: The inherent problem addressed by this Fortnight
• REASON: The reason the problem affects us
• HISTORY: The development of the problem
• REMEDY:  The proposed solution
• METHODOLOGY: The approach offered
• PROCEDURE: The specific plan for the fortnight
• TIME PERIOD: The first fornight following the spring equinox (circa March 20th) This can be either a new or full moon.
• RYTHYMN: The practice schedule - 3, 5, 7, & 15 day periods
• EXPRESSION:  Farm Collective/Family/Isolated individual approaches 
• EXAMPLES: The historical figures that exemplify
• RECORDS: The writings that may be helpful: Tao TeChing, Yi Ching,  A-khrid Meditation,  Wonders of the Natural Mind,  The practice of Dzogchen in the Zhang-Zhung tradition of Tibet  Journal of the International Association for Bon Research Buddhist Books 
• WEEDING: The recognition and avoidance of pitfalls found in history and texts
• CONCLUSION:  The concluding evaluation of progress made
• INSIGHTS: Notes for future attempts
• PARADOX: The enigmas of this facet and formula of transcendance
• ENDING:  The closure of the period, giving away merit, owning change, prepping for next series of exercises
 
 

FIRST FIRESTAR FORTNIGHT
White Water  relates esoteric matters

Taoist teachings are easily categorized according to its Five Element Theory. Shinrab Miwo codified his teachings in 5 levels, the first of these is the White Water and it relates to esoteric matters; The 'White Waters' Portal represents the Seventh and Eight Ways of the Nine Way System. It also includes the Third Way of the Nine Way System  as it is directed towards the 'Bon of effect' and the texts and practices of the Tantras. The Bon of "the White Waters" containing the Fierce Mantras: this collection consists of esoteric Tantric practices focusing on the recitation of wrathful or fierce mantras associated with various meditation deities. Within this class are included the cycle of "General Collection", or the practices associated with the Father Tantras. 
 

7. The Way of the White AH: This Way is primarily focused upon tantric practice using visualization. Mandalas. Transformation by way of visualizing oneself as the meditation deity 
8. The Way of the Primordial Shen: This Way is primarily focused upon higher tantric practice.Tantric consort,
3. The Way of the Shen of Magical Power: This Way includes venerating a deity or master and then applying mantra and mudra in order to accomplish a goal such as requesting assistance from natural forces.
7.  Way of the Manifestation of Compassion as actual visualization,    (Central Treasure)
8.  Way wherein everything is perfect and very meaningful,   (Central Treasure)
3.  Way of the Compasionate Boddhisattvas,   (Central Treasure)

PATH	MOTHER ELEMENT	DAUGHTER ELEMENT	GRANDDAUGHTER ELEMENT	DEGREE	FORTNITE	3 MYSTERIES	PRACTICE	NOTES	CUISINE/FAST
Bon	Fire	Fire	Fire	1°	New/Full Moon**	Body	Bonpo Fir Offering by fire, Temple Oil Lamps, Siberian sweat lodges, Kundalini heat contests		3  Tibetan
"	"	"	Wind	"	Lunar 2/17	Body	Windhorse flags, Pranayama, Inner Winds, Book printing, Vajrayana/Bonpo Chants/Mantras,Embryonic Breathing (Tai Hsi) – also known as Primordial Breathing or Umbilical Breathing, Taoist Breathing Techniques: Abdominal, Reverse, and Vase		4  Mexican
"	"	"	Zephyr	"	Lunar 3/18	Body	Red/white Torma offerings, Tantric unions, Yab-Yum statues and thankas, Chang Beer rites		5  Italian
"	"	"	Earth	2°	Lunar 4/19	Body	Stupa windershins, prostrations, Padmasambhava Cave retreats, Sacred Grottos, Bon Altar, 49 day dark retreat, Grandmother field altar/stupas, Meditation		1  Japanese
"	"	"	Water	"	Lunar 5/20	Body	Ganges immersion, Harappan Bathing pools, Sikh Baptism (Amrit Sakar), Tibetan 5 herb bathing, Manosara Lake plunge		2  Mid East
"	"	"	Fire	"	Lunar 6/21	Speech	Bon Mantras, text group study		3  Tibetan
"	"	"	Wind	3°	Lunar 7/22	Speech	Bon Mantras, text group study		4  Mexican
"	"	"	Zephyr	"	Lunar 8/23	Speech	Bon Mantras, text group study		5  Italian
"	"	"	Earth	"	Lunar 9/24	Speech	Bon Mantras, text group study		1  Japanese
"	"	"	Water	4°	Lunar 10/25	Speech	Bon Mantras, text group study		2  Mid East
"	"	"	Fire	"	Lunar 11/26	Mind	Bon Dzogchen Visualization		3  Tibetan
"	"	"	Wind	"	Lunar 12/27	Mind	Bon Dzogchen Visualization		4  Mexican
"	"	"	Zephyr	5°	Lunar 13/28	Mind	Bon Dzogchen Visualization		5  Italian
"	"	"	Earth	"	Lunar 14/29	Mind	Bon Dzogchen Visualization		1 Fast  Japanese
"	"	"	Water	"	Lunar 15/(30)* Fast	Mind*	Bon Visualization		Fast

*Only half of the Lunar Months or Dark Fortnites have a 30th Day & 2 day fast, shorter months have a 1 day fast. 
**Fornite begins on the first new or full moon after the Spring Equinox (Mar 20/21)

 

SECOND FIRESTAR FORTNIGHT
Black Water concerns narratives, magic, funeral rites and ransom rituals

Shinrab Miwo codified his teachings in 5 levels, the second of these is the Black Water which concerns narratives, magic, funeral rites and ransom rituals; The 'Black Waters' Portal represents the First, Second and Fourth Ways.  Ways of predicition, death ceremonies and magical rites of all kinds (viz. The 'original bonpo material') The Bon of "the Black Waters" for the continuity of existence: this collection consists of various magical rituals, funeral rites, ransom rites, divination practices, and so on, necessary for the process of purifying and counteracting negative energies. This collection would seem to correspond, by and large, to the Four Causal Ways described above. Here the term "black" refers not to the practitioner's intention, but to the expelling of negativities, which are symbolically black in color.
 

1. The Way of the Shen of Prediction: This Way includes divination, astrology, various rituals, and medical diagnosis.
2. The Way of the Shen of the Phenomenal World: This Way includes rituals dealing with communication with external forces such as rituals of protection, invocation, ransom of the soul and life-force, and repelling negative or harmful energies.
4. The Way of the Shen of Existence: This Way is primarily focused upon rituals for the dead and methods to promote longevity for the living.
1. Way of Gods and Men where one reies upon another,  (Central Treasure)
2.  Way of those who understand by themselves and of those who are the followers of Shenrab,    (Central Treasure)
4.  Way of the Boddhisattvas which is wothout any conceptual elaborations.    (Central Treasure)

PATH	MOTHER ELEMENT	DAUGHTER ELEMENT	GRANDDAUGHTER ELEMENT	DEGREE	FORTNITE	3 MYSTERIES	PRACTICE	NOTES	CUISINE/FAST
Bon	Fire	Wind	Wind	6°	New/Full Moon**	Body	Windhorse flags, Pranayama, Inner Winds, Book printing, Vajrayana/Bonpo Chants/Mantras, Embryonic Breathing (Tai Hsi) – also known as Primordial Breathing or Umbilical Breathing		4  Mexican
"	"	"	Zephyr	"	Lunar 2/17	Body	Red/white Torma offerings, Tantric unions, Yab-Yum statues and thankas, Chang Beer rites		5  Italian
"	"	"	Earth	"	Lunar 3/18	Body	Stupa windershins, prostrations, Padmasambhava Cave retreats, Sacred Grottos, Bon Altar, 49 day dark retreat, Grandmother field altar/stupas, Meditation		1  Japanese
"	"	"	Water	7°	Lunar 4/19	Body	Ganges immersion, Harappan Bathing pools, Sikh Baptism (Amrit Sakar), Tibetan 5 herb bathing, Manosara Lake plunge		2  Mid East
"	"	"	Fire	"	Lunar 5/20	Body	Bonpo Fir Offering by fire, Temple Oil Lamps, Siberian sweat lodges, Kundalini heat contests		3  Tibetan
"	"	"	Wind	"	Lunar 6/21	Speech	Bon Mantras, text group study		4  Mexican
"	"	"	Zephyr	8°	Lunar 7/22	Speech	Bon Mantras, text group study		5  Italian
"	"	"	Earth	"	Lunar 8/23	Speech	Bon Mantras, text group study		1  Japanese
"	"	"	Water	"	Lunar 9/24	Speech	Bon Mantras, text group study		2  Mid East
"	"	"	Fire	9°	Lunar 10/25	Speech	Bon Mantras, text group study		3  Tibetan
"	"	"	Wind	"	Lunar 11/26	Mind	Bon Dzogchen Visualization		4  Mexican
"	"	"	Zephyr	"	Lunar 12/27	Mind	Bon Dzogchen Visualization		5  Italian
"	"	"	Earth	10°	Lunar 13/28	Mind	Bon Dzogchen Visualization		1  Japanese
"	"	"	Water	"	Lunar 14/29	Mind	Bon Dzogchen Visualization		2 Fast Mid East
"	"	"	Fire	"	Lunar 15/(30)*Fast	Mind*	Bon Visualization		Fast

*Only half of the Lunar Months or Dark Fortnites have a 30th Day & 2 day fast, shorter months have a 1 day fast. 
**This Fornite begins on either a new or full moon, depending on the previous moon phase

THIRD FIRESTAR FORTNIGHT
Land of Phan  codifies monastic rules and philosophical expositions

Shinrab Miwo codified his teachings in 5 levels, the third  of these is the  Land of Phan which codifies monastic rules and philosophical expositions; The hPhan-yul Portal represents the Fith and Sixth Ways.  Texts and practices connected with monastic religion. (One may observe that the reading of 'Perfection of Wisdom' literature as a meritorious rite was as poular then as now). The Bon of the Extensive Prajnaparamita from the country of Phanyul ('phan-yul rgyas-pa 'bum gyi bon): this collection consists of the moral precepts, vows, rules, and ethical teachings for monks and also for lay people who have taken one to five vows and remained householders. In particular, the focus is on the philosophical and ethical system of the Prajnaparamita Sutras, which are preserved in the Bonpo version in sixteen volumes known as the Khams-chen. This collection basically represents the Sutra system, whereas the Chab dkar above represents the Tantra system.
 

5. The Way of the Virtuous Lay Practitioners: This Way specifies the proper conduct of lay people taking vows. Stupas
6.  The Way of the Fully Ordained: This Way specifies the proper conduct for those who are fully ordained practitioners. Ascetics
5.  Way of the primordial Bon of pure conduct and ritual action,    (Central Treasure)
6.  Way of the Clear Knowledge which knows all aspects,    (Central Treasure)

 

PATH	MOTHER ELEMENT	DAUGHTER ELEMENT	GRANDDAUGHTER ELEMENT	DEGREE	FORTNITE	3 MYSTERIES	PRACTICE	NOTES	CUISINE/FAST
Bon	Fire	Zephyr	Zephyr	11°	New/Full Moon**	Body	Red/white Torma offerings, Tantric unions, Yab-Yum statues and thankas, Chang Beer rites		5  Italian
"	"	"	Earth	"	Lunar 2/17	Body	Stupa windershins, prostrations, Padmasambhava Cave retreats, Sacred Grottos, Bon Altar, 49 day dark retreat, Grandmother field altar/stupas, Meditation		1  Japanese
"	"	"	Water	"	Lunar 3/18	Body	Ganges immersion, Harappan Bathing pools, Sikh Baptism (Amrit Sakar), Tibetan 5 herb bathing, Manosara Lake plunge		2  Mid East
"	"	"	Fire	12°	Lunar 4/19	Body	Bonpo Fir Offering by fire, Temple Oil Lamps, Siberian sweat lodges, Kundalini heat contests		3  Tibetan
"	"	"	Wind	"	Lunar 5/20	Body	Windhorse flags, Pranayama, Inner Winds, Book printing, Vajrayana/Bonpo Chants/Mantras, Embryonic Breathing (Tai Hsi) – also known as Primordial Breathing or Umbilical Breathing		4  Mexican
"	"	"	Zephyr	"	Lunar 6/21	Speech	Bon Mantras, text group study		5  Italian
"	"	"	Earth	13°	Lunar 7/22	Speech	Bon Mantras, text group study		1  Japanese
"	"	"	Water	"	Lunar 8/23	Speech	Bon Mantras, text group study		2  Mid East
"	"	"	Fire	"	Lunar 9/24	Speech	Bon Mantras, text group study		3  Tibetan
"	"	"	Wind	14°	Lunar 10/25	Speech	Bon Mantras, text group study		4  Mexican
"	"	"	Zephyr	"	Lunar 11/26	Mind	Bon Dzogchen Visualization		5  Italian
"	"	"	Earth	"	Lunar 12/27	Mind	Bon Dzogchen Visualization		1  Japanese
"	"	"	Water	15°	Lunar 13/28	Mind	Bon Dzogchen Visualization		2  Mid East
"	"	"	Fire	"	Lunar 14/29	Mind	Bon Dzogchen Visualization		3  FastTibetan
"	"	"	Wind	"	Lunar 15/(30)*Fast	Mind*	Bon Visualization		Fast

*Only half of the Lunar Months or Dark Fortnites have a 30th Day & 2 day fast, shorter months have a 1 day fast. 
**This Fornite begins on either a new or full moon, depending on the previous moon phase

9. The Unsurpassed Way: This Way is primarily focused upon the practice of Dzogchen, or The Great Perfection.   It is concerned with the realization of the true nature of one’s own mind. 
9.  unsurpassed Way of the highest peak which is the Primordial Great perfection.    (Central Treasure)

Shinrab Miwo codified his teachings in 5 levels, the fifth  of these is the  Treasury which serves as an anthology of the salient items of the previous Four Portals studied in the previous four fortnights. As for the 'Treasury which makes the Fifth' , this is the 'Pure Summit, which once again is best defined by a quotation from gZer-mig:  As for the 'Pure Summit', it goes everywhere. As insight it belongs to the BON which is a universal cutting off. It urifies the stream of knowledge in all the 'Four Portals'. It simply involves that insight into the non-substantiality of appearances. It understands the deluding nature of the 'inner essences'. In terms of absolute truth non-substance, too, is an absurdity. The Bon of the Treasury, which is of the highest purity and is all-inclusive: this collection contains essential material from all Four Portals of Bon. The Treasury, which is the fifth, is described in the gZer-myig: "As for the highest purity , it extends everywhere. As insight, it belongs to the Bon that is universa.  It purifies the stream of consciousness in terms of all four Portals."