Medicated Butters for Rejuvenation and Controlling Winds
Published in Sowa Rigpa Journal 2, 2018
Rejuvenation and longevity practices, bcud len (pronounced chulen) in Tibetan and rasāyana in Sanskrit, are among the more famous aspects of Tibetan healing and yogic practices. Roughly translated as 'taking the essence' or 'providing vital essence,' it is accomplished via pills or medicine butters. Many historical accounts describe great masters taking essence medicines during prolonged retreats to sustain their bodies and increase the power of their practices. In modern day bcud len retreats, one relies upon such substances rather than food for twenty-one days to a month, whereas accounts tell of great yogis subsisting on essence medicines alone for years. The concept that one can support life-force without actual food is an amazing statement. Yet many narratives exist for this practice being utilized with great success. Methods for pursuing meditation without food can first be attributed to Buddha Shakyamuni himself. Siddhartha, the Indian prince who gave up everything , began his journey towards enlightenment using austere methods of Indian yogis and mystics. His biography details abandoning food during practices for extended lengths of time. This points to his use of classical Indian rasāyana, or essence practices. The Tibetan tradition known as zhi byed (pro-nounced shi je) which means "to pacify" or "bring peace" was brought to Tibet during the early 12th century by the great Indian Mahasiddha Padampa Sangye, a. He had an extraordinarily long life, resulting in passing his teachings in three full transmission line-age cycles, the early, intermediate, and late. The early transmission lineage contains three cycles of zhi byed. The title of a text he composed describes the practice results, Dam chos dug nal zhi byed byed pa, "The Profound Dharma that Pacifies Suffering." Zhi byed is said to contain four achievements attained through proper practice: (1) pacifying sicknesses, obstacles, mental obscurations and ignorance, (2) enriching merit, life span, prosperity and wisdom, (3) bringing the spiritual qualities, life force and all powerful energies under control, and (4) subjugating outer and inner negative forces. From this lineage viewpoint, aspects of bcud len are believed to have been transmitted from Vajrayogini to Padampa Sangye. I assert the second achievement of enriching ones lifespan is the result of rejuvenation practices combined with yogic methods. The third result, where spiritual qualities, life force and the powerful energies are controlled also demonstrate bcud len accomplishment. Talking of bcud len as a practice can be performed through various methods. Most famously, bcud len becomes a complete replacement for food during retreat by slowly substituting food for essence substances.