Tib.] a Tibetan religious tradition claiming to have originated from the teachings of Tönpa Shenrab, who the Bonpo holds achieved enlightenment many centuries before the time of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni. The orthodox Bonpo - the Black Bonpo (Bon nag) has ceased to exist in Tibet, but a reformed Bonpo or the White Bonpo (Bonkar) with substantial elements and framework of Buddhism, developed from the 10th century onwards and remained to this day. It emphasizes Tantric practices similar to the Old Tantra tradition but with different deities.
(Tib). Term used in various senses for aspects of pre- and non-Buddhist religion in Tibet. The main senses are (1) early Tibetan folk religion, before the times of the kings or emperors; (2) court religion of the kings or emperors in the 7th to 9th centuries; the term bon seems to have referred to some of the priests of this cult; (3) "Reformed" Bon, essentially a variant Buddhist order, see BONPO below; (4) derogatory term for black magic, anti-Buddhist practices, folk religion. BON(-PO) (= Bon, sense 3). A Tibetan religious tradition claiming to originate in the teachings of T–npa Shenrab, who the Bonpo hold achieved Enlightenment many centuries before the time of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni. Essentially a variant Buddhist order which developed from the 10th century onwards. Emphasises Tantric practice similar to the Old Tantra tradition (see TANTRA) but with different YIDAM (deities). Like the Nyingmapa, includes Dzogchíen teachings and TERMA revelations. The Bonpo were subjected to some persecution by the GELUKPA in particular.