The Founder of the Bön Religion was called Shenrab Miwo. It is said that in a past age there were three brothers, Dagpa (Dag-pa), Salba (gSal-ba) and Shepa (Shes-pa), who studied the Bön doctrines in the heaven named Sridpa Yesang (Srid-pa Ye-sangs), under the Bön sage Bumtri Logi Chechan ('Bum-khri glog-gi-lce-can). When they had completed their studies they visited the God of Compassion Shenlha Odkar (gShen-lha 'Od-dkar) and asked him how they could help living beings who are submerged in the misery and sorrow of suffering. Shenlha Odkar advised them to act as guides to mankind in three successive ages of the world. To follow his advice, the eldest brother Dagpa completed his work in the past world age, while the second brother Salba took the name Shenrab and became the teacher and guide of the present world age. It will be the youngest brother, Shepa, who will come to teach in the next world age.

According to the Bön religion of Tibet, about 18,000 years ago Lord Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche (sTon-pa gShen-rab Mi-bo-che: Teacher and Great Man of the Shen) was born in the land of Olmo Lungring ('Ol-mo lung-ring), a part of a larger country called Tazig (sTag-gzigs: Central Asia). 'Ol' symbolizes the unborn, 'mo' the undiminishing; 'Lung' denotes the prophetic words of Tonpa Shenrab, the founder of Bön, and ring, his everlasting compassion. Olmo Lungring constitutes one-third of the existing world, and is situated to the west of Tibet. It is described as an eight-petalled lotus under a sky which appears like an eight-spoked wheel. In the centre rises Mount Yungdrung Gutseg (gYung-drung dgu-brtsegs), the 'Pyramid of Nine Swastikas'. The nine swastikas represent the Nine Ways of Bön, which will be described below.

The swastika or yundrung is a symbol of permanence and indestructibility of the wisdom of Bön.
At the base of Mount Yungdrung Gutseg spring four rivers, flowing towards the four cardinal directions. The mountain is surrounded by temples, cities and parks. To the south is Barpo Sogye (Bar-po so-brgyad) palace, where Tonpa Shenrab was born. To the west and north are the palaces where Tonpa Shenrab's wives and children lived. To the east is Shampo Lhatse (Sham-po lha-rtse) temple. The complex of palaces, rivers and parks with Mount Yungdrung Gutseg in the centre constitutes the inner region (Nang-gling) of Olmo Lungring. The intermediate region (Bar-gling) consists of twelve cities, four of which lie in the four cardinal directions. The third region includes the outer land (mTha'-gling). These three regions are encircled by an ocean and a range of snowy mountains.

For further information
'Yungdrung Bön' - The native religion of Tibet