Bonpo Lam
The Bonist Lama are the third religious specialists. They are different from the Tibetan Buddhist lamas. Like the shamans, they too have a phailu cho ( a small house shrine) to their ancestors and the main Tamu gods. Bonist Lama also practice animal sacrifices in their rituals and also get married.
The lama performs many rituals such as the pae, the after-death ritual with the pachyu. In many ways, these lama are similar to the khelbri. Their dresses are also similar.
A story someone told is:
‘Some Tamu went to Nar in Northern Manang to learn Bonish Lamaism. When they returned home, their mothers and fathers told them they could not understand the Tibetan manners and ways and so the lamas learned the ritual performance of the khelbri.
Their sacred texts are written in the Tibetan script and language.
The lama performs many rituals such as the pae, the after-death ritual with the pachyu. In many ways, these lama are similar to the khelbri. Their dresses are also similar.
A story someone told is:
‘Some Tamu went to Nar in Northern Manang to learn Bonish Lamaism. When they returned home, their mothers and fathers told them they could not understand the Tibetan manners and ways and so the lamas learned the ritual performance of the khelbri.
Their sacred texts are written in the Tibetan script and language.
