Menri Monastery Preserves Ancient Bon Religion Through Manuscripts and Art

Menri Monastery in northern India houses the world's largest collection of manuscripts and block-print books related to Bon, Tibet's pre-Buddhist religion. These materials were rescued from Tibetan monasteries before their destruction during the Cultural Revolution. After the 1959 Tibetan uprising, Bonpo Lamas established the Tibetan Bonpo Foundation in Dolanji, Himachal Pradesh. The monastery's main temple was built between 1969 and 1978. Bon was recognized as the fifth Tibetan religious school by the 14th Dalai Lama in 1987. The manuscripts support cultural preservation and scholarly research, though digitization efforts were impacted by a 2023 cyber-attack on the British Library. Bon culture predates Buddhism's arrival in Tibet in the 7th century and emphasizes nature reverence and healing. Modern practitioners include Tibetans, Naxi, Kinnauri, and Nepalese communities. Bon artifacts are held in museums worldwide, including the Rubin Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Guimet Museum.