Types[edit]

As noted by Dmitry Ermakov, "the word Bön is used to denote many diverse religious and cultural
traditions." Bon sources acknowledge this and Bon authors like Shardza Rinpoche (1859–1935),
Pelden Tsultrim (1902–1973) and Lopön Tenzin Namdak use a classification of three types of "Bon".
Modern scholars also sometimes rely on this classification, which is as follows:[11][12][13][29]

• Prehistoric Bon (Gdod ma'i bon) of Zhangzhung and Tibet. This is an ancient system of
belief and ritual practice that is mostly extinct today. However, elements of it exist in
various religious practices found in the Himalayas – mainly in the calling of fortune rituals
(g.yang 'gug), the soul retrieval or re-call rituals (bla 'gugs) and the ransom rituals
(mdos). Ermakov sees some similarities between this tradition and the Eurasian cult of
the sky deer.[29]
• Eternal Bon (Yungdrung Bon), also called old Bon (Bon Nyingma), which are traced to
the Buddha Tonpa Shenrab and other sages from Zhangzhung. These religions
developed from the 8th to the 11th century and are similar to Nyingma Buddhism. It
includes ancient elements which are pre-Buddhist (including the fortune, bla and ransom
rituals).
• New Bon (Bon Sarma, Bonsar), a syncretic tradition which includes elements form
Eternal Bon and Tibetan Buddhism, including the worship of the Buddhist
figure Padmasambhava. This new movement dates from the 14th century and was
mainly active in eastern Tibet.
Dmitry Ermakov also adds an extra category which he terms "mixed Bon" and which he defines as:[29]