Padmasambhava

Sham S. Misri

Padmasambhava is sometimes called "Guru Rinpoche," or precious guru. He was an Indian Buddhist mystic who introduced Tantric Buddhism to Tibet. He is credited with establishing the first Buddhist monastery there.  Sometimes called “the second Buddha", he was an 8th-century Buddhist Tantrist.

He was a historical figure and is believed to have appeared miraculously in the blossom of a lotus in the lake called "Ocean of Milk" in South West Uddyana, which is also known as Lake Danakosha located on the Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier. This area was famed for its magicians.

There are different interpretations about his birth. Some Indian historians state that he was born to a minister or a King of Uddyana, and some claim that he appeared directly on the summit of Mt. Malaya in Sri Lanka. But Padmasambhava’s teachings confirm that he was born suddenly from a lotus. This source is the most renown and thus the following history is provided accordingly.

The great river Sindhu that springs from Kailash Mountain, flows towards the Western Land of Uddyana and finally empties into the Arabian Sea. When the river reaches Uddyana, it forms a lake filled with lotuses. As the lotus roots produce a sweet-milky juice, it is called "Ocean of Milk."

Prior to Padmasambhava’s birth, in the centre of the lake a large, fully mature, beautiful, red lotus grew. From the lotus there arose an eight-year-old child perfectly adorned with the typical marks. Holding a Vajra and a lotus in his hands, he immediately began giving teachings to the gods and dakinis of the area.

At that time, the ruler of the land of Uddyana, King Indrabodhi, was residing in his palace with his queen and hundreds of ministers. It is said that the king did not have a son. The king made great offerings to the poor and destitute. He also opened the door of his treasuries and went on distributing alms to the deprived and needy until his wealth was exhausted. He then exclaimed, "Beggars have still not ceased, but I have nothing to donate!” When the remaining beggars did not receive their share, they told the king that if he did not provide them their share, his charity and donation would be meaningless. The king heard this. He was inspired to get wealth for the beggars. He sent his ministers to travel to the ocean. They had to procure the wish-fulfilling jewel from the crown of the mystical creature, Charumati, daughter of Naga. They procured the jewel and sailed back with their boat filled with the jewels. While traveling to meet the king, the king’s religious minister, found the extraordinary child on the lotus. He narrated the full story of the child to the king. The king was pleased by this news. The king and the minister went to the child. The king was thrown into a wonder of delight. He invited the child to the palace as his son as well as religious guide. The child was named "Padmasambhava" meaning "lotus-born." Later he married Prabhadharani, the daughter of King Chandan Gomashree, and ruled the kingdom in accordance with the Dharma. He became renowned as Shikhabandh Raja or "The King with Plaited Hair."

Once he performed a mystical activity of killing the son of a wicked minister and was exiled from the country. He settled into a graveyard into the wilderness, becoming friend of the dakinis and meditating upon life and death. He started to travel from graveyard to graveyard, always studying the sacred texts and meditating, and he became disciple of various spiritual masters. Gradually by performing mystical activities at the graveyard he accomplished Siddhi and came to be known as Rodravajrakala, "The Wrathful Vajra Display."

Padmasambhava --In adulthood he was driven from Uddyana by evil spirits. Finally, in order to inspire faith towards the teachings in the disciples of the future, he then went to Bodhgaya and many other places displaying the act of receiving teachings from many great scholars, expert masters and Dakinis. In Bodh Gaya, he studied at the great Buddhist University at Nalanda in India, and he was guided by many significant teachers and spiritual guides.

He became the disciple of a great yogi named Sri Simha, and received tantric teachings. Then he went to the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal, where he lived in a cave with the first of his consorts, Mandarava (also called Sukhavati). While there, the couple received texts on Vajrakilaya, an important tantric practice. Through Vajrakilaya, Padmasambhava and Mandarava realized great enlightenment.

Padmasambhava became a renowned teacher, and on many occasions he performed miracles that brought demons under control. This ability eventually took him to Tibet, to cleanse the site of the Emperor's monastery from demons. The demons -- the gods of indigenous Tibetan religion -- were converted to Buddhism and became dharmapalas, or protectors of the dharma.

Once the demons were pacified, the building of Tibet's first monastery could be completed. Padmasambhava returned to Nepal, but seven years later he came back to Tibet. The Emperor Trisong Detsen was so overjoyed to see Padmasambhava he offered Padmasambhava all the wealth of Tibet. The tantric master refused these gifts. But he did accept a lady from the Emperor's harem, the princess Yeshe Tsogyal, as his second consort, provided the princess accept the relationship of her free will.

Together with Yeshe Tsogyal, Padmasambhava hid a number of mystic texts in Tibet and elsewhere. One mystic text is known in English as the "Tibetan Book of the Dead." Yeshe Tsogyal became Padmasambhava's dharma heir and she transmitted the teachings to the disciples. By now Padmasambhava had three more consorts. In addition to them, he had five women - called the’ Five Wisdom Dakinis.’

In order to tame the people of Uddyana he returned there disguised as a religious man who lived by asking the public for food. But many people recognized him and he was set to be burned alive in a sandalwood fire by a host of evil-minded ministers and people. When the fire was lit, he miraculously transformed the fire into a huge lake filled with lotuses. Sitting himself with consort over a giant lotus in the middle of the lake, the king, ministers, and people were shocked and developed great faith towards him. This was some achievement of Padmasambhava prior to coming to Tibet ^{** (3)}.

He travelled extensively through northern India and Nepal, winning many people to the Buddhist faith. He performed miraculous feats, and his name became widely known as one of the greatest master of his age.

Padmasambhava's life began with another Buddhist master named Shantarakshita. Shantarakshita came from Nepal at the invitation of Tibetan king Trisong Detsen, who was interested in Buddhism. Unfortunately, Tibetans worried that Shantarakshita practiced black magic, and he was kept in detention for a few months. Further, no one spoke his language. Months passed before a translator was found. Eventually Shantarakshita gained the Emperor's trust and was allowed to teach.

Sometime after that, the Emperor announced plans to build a grand monastery. But a series of natural disasters -- flooded temples, castles struck by lightning -- stirred Tibetans' fears. Their local gods were angry about the plans for the temple. The Emperor sent Shantarakshita back to Nepal.

Some time passed, and the disasters were forgotten. The Emperor asked Shantarakshita to return. But this time Shantarakshita brought another guru with him -- Padmasambhava, who was a master of rituals to tame demons.

When he was subduing various demons in the mountains of Nepal and Bhutan, he was approached by Trisong Detsen, King of Tibet. The king was building a Buddhist monastery in Tibet, but he was confronting the fierce opposition of local deities and their worshipers. As the demons were causing great problems, Padmasambhava by his divine power called them one by one by name. He threatened each demon, and Shantarakshita -- through a translator -- taught them about karma. With his exorcist powers, Padmasambhava defeated them all. When he was finished, Padmasambhava informed the Emperor that building of his monastery could begin.

However, Padmasambhava was still viewed with suspicion by many at Trisong Detsen's court. Rumours circulated that he would use magic to seize power and depose the Emperor. Eventually the Emperor was worried enough that he suggested Padmasambhava might leave Tibet. Padmasambhava was angry, but agreed to leave. The Emperor was still worried, so he sent archers after Padmasambhava to put an end to him. Legends say Padmasambhava used magic to freeze his assassins, and so escaped ^(**4).

Padmasambhava walked upon the entire land of Tibet and blessed all the mountains, lakes and caves as places for accomplishment. He concealed treasure texts, material wealth, holy images, and gave explicit prophesy regarding the future manifestation of these treasures, including the revealers and protector of the treasure, as well as the time of revelation.

He then gave initiation to his new Tibetan disciples, the king among them. He took as spiritual consort the queen Yeshe Tsogyal, and travelled with her, hiding in secret caves holy texts to be discovered in the future, the so-called "spiritual treasures." The year after Tri-song Detsan died, Padmasambhava left Tibet for the last time.

After that, he left Tibet for the demon-land, where he established the Pure Land called "The Glorious Copper Mountain".

Padmasambhava with both temporal and spiritual attributes is shown wearing an expression of great force and concentration while holding various implements of power such as the Vajra, skull-cup and trident staff. He is dressed not only in the robes of a monk but also in the garments of a king to indicate that he is a member of both worldly and religious royalty. Concerning his birth, Guru Rinpoche himself said:

On one famous occasion, after rumours were spread that Padmasambhava had acted improperly while giving instructions to Princess Mandarava and her attendants, her father — the king of Zahor — ordered her to be cast into a pit of thorns and her guru to be burnt at the stake. Then, the traditional accounts relate: "All the deities and the buddhas came to Padma's aid. Some created a lake, some cast aside the wood, some unrolled the oil-soaked cloth, and some fanned him. On the seventh day afterwards the King came there. He saw that the smoke was still smoke coming from the pyre. He thought to himself, "This mendicant (homeless) may have been, after all, some incarnation," and he sent ministers to investigate. To their astonishment they saw a rainbow lake where the pyre had been and surrounding the lake all the wood aflame, and at the center of the lake a lotus blossom upon which sat a beautiful child. Apparently the appealing child was about eight years of age, its face covered with a dew-like perspiration. Eight maidens of the same appearance as Mandarava attended the child."

Today this lake remains an important pilgrimage spot and is considered a particularly blessed site for meditative practice.

Of all Padmasambhava's enlightening deeds, those the Tibetan people cherish most relate to his introduction of Vajrayana Buddhism into the Land of Snow. The teachings, usually of the highest yoga tantra level, which Padmasambhava — often assisted by his consort Yeshe Tsogyal were concealed for later discovery. Some were hidden in the earth while others were planted directly into the minds of his major disciples. When the time is ripe for the propagation of these hidden teachings, reincarnations of these same disciples appear and are inspired to discover and reveal them. Such discoverers of these hidden teachings are known as tertons, or treasure masters.

Then I, Padmá, gave final instructions to my devotees and to those who would be reborn in the future: Future generations who cannot meet me must read this explanation of my spiritual practice and self-liberated existence in this world.

Having urged the people to aspire to Buddhahood in this manner, I, Padmá, mounted the magical horse and was carried aloft by four dakinis. Again, I spoke to the people: I will come to remove the suffering of the people of the world on the tenth day of every moon but especially on the tenth day of the monkey month. Do not forget to pray ^(**5)!

When the first monastery in Tibet was built, seven noble children had top part of head without hair. They were the monks of the first monastery in Tibetan Buddhist history. The event thus pioneered the tonsure system of Tibetan Buddhism.

In addition to inviting Indian monks to Tibet, the king sent trusted emissaries to China's hinterland to invite monks to lecture in Tibet.

Mahayana became one of the many Han monks who contributed to ensuring that Han Buddhism flourished in Tibet. Mahayana remained in Tibet for 11 years lecturing on Buddhism and completing nine books on Buddhist tenets.

The Tubo kings promoted Buddhism by building monasteries and commissioning the translation of Buddhist sutras. At the same time, they granted monks royal incomes and even encouraged them to become involved in government affairs in order to weaken ministers who supported the Bon religion.

Shortly after assuming power by the followers of Bon religion, their leader Darma set out to suppress Buddhism, but was soon killed by Tibetan Buddhists. A war erupted between the different power factions. Slaves, who were thrown into the deep hole of misery, rose to revolt. Tibet was torn apart by various forces. The "diffusion of Buddhism'' was thus halted.

The early 10th century witnessed the entry of a primitive society in Tibet. Each of the Tubo ministers occupied a part of the kingdom with outdated powers in their respective localities. They continued to promote Buddhism in order to strengthen their own rule. Buddhism was thus revived in Tibet. The 300-odd years of struggle between Buddhism and the Bon religion resulted in each absorbing the strong points of the other. Buddhism was increasingly liked by Tibetans.  Tibetan Buddhism emerged and entered a stage of rapid development.

Tibetan Buddhists follow Padmasambhava’s teachings. They emphasize on Tantric rituals, worship, and Yoga. Texts basic to the sect’s teachings are said to have been buried by Padmasambhava. They have begun to be found around 1125. He also had many Tantric books translated from the original Sanskrit into Tibetan.

Nocturnal Creature –The Bats

Nocturnal Creature –The Bats
Sham S. Misri
Bats are strange creatures sleeping in the lofts. They are seen hanging from the live electric wire in the early mornings. As the sun goes down they take to the air. They come flying out of the windows. They swoop low over the river. They dart under an old bridge. From far away the creatures look like birds. They are the creatures with fur. Bats are mammals.
Bats are not blind. They are mammals with eyes and they can see. Bats spend most of their time in the dark. Bats are different from other mammals. They can fly. Bat wings are not like bird wings. Bats do not have feathers. A bat’s wing is really an arm with a hand. Its long, thin fingers are joined by a flap of skin. Bats even have little thumbs.

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Bats are not blind. The smallest bat is of the size of a bee.  If there are lots of bats around, it means that the air and water are probably clean. That is why it is good luck to see a bat!
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For further reading and more exciting stories please see this book

 

Helen Keller

Sham S. Misri

“I shall succeed some day if I only keep trying,” wrote Helen Keller in her autobiography at the age of 22. True to her words, her diligence transformed her into one of the world’s most inspiring figures.

Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880 in Alabama, United States. Keller's father was an officer in the Army during the Civil War. The family was not wealthy and earned income from their cotton plantation. Keller was born with her senses of sight and hearing, and started speaking when she was just 6 months old. She started walking at the age of 1.

In 1882, Keller fell ill. She suffered from "brain fever" that produced a high body temperature. Within a few days after the fever broke, Keller's mother noticed that her daughter didn't show any reaction when the dinner bell was rung, or when a hand was waved in front of her face. Keller had lost both her sight and hearing. She was just 18 months old. Illness had struck her blind, deaf and mute. She relied on visual gestures and signs to communicate with her family.

As Keller grew into childhood, she developed a limited method of communication with her companion, Martha Washington, the young daughter of the family cook. The two had created a type of sign language, and by the time Keller was 7, they had invented more than 60 signs to communicate with each other. But Keller had become very wild and unruly during this time. She would kick and scream when angry, and giggle uncontrollably when happy. She would annoy Martha and inflicted violent bad temper on her parents.

The turning point in her life came at the age of seven when she met her tutor Anne Sullivan. In March 1887, Anne Sullivan, the teacher went to Keller's home in Alabama to teach her. She began by teaching Helen finger spelling, starting with the word "doll," to help Keller understand the gift of a doll she had brought along. Other words would follow. At first, Keller was curious, then disobedient, refusing to cooperate with Sullivan's instruction. When Keller did cooperate, Sullivan could tell that she wasn't making the connection between the objects and the letters spelled out in her hand. Sullivan kept working at it, forcing Helen to go through the routine.

As Keller's frustration grew, the irritability increased. Finally, Sullivan demanded that she and Keller be isolated from the rest of the family for a time, so that Keller could concentrate only on Sullivan's instruction. They moved to a different cottage.

In a dramatic struggle, Sullivan taught Keller the word "water"; she helped her make the connection between the object and the letters by taking Keller out to the water pump, and placing Keller's hand under the ‘water’. While Sullivan poured cool water over Keller's hand, she spelled out the word ‘w-a-t-e-r’ on Helen's other hand. Keller then described the experience: “I knew then that ‘w-a-t-e-r’ meant the wonderful cool something that was flowing over my hand. That living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free.” She then pounded the ground, demanding to know its "letter name." Sullivan followed her, spelling out the word into her hand. Keller moved to other objects with Sullivan in tow. By nightfall, she had learned 30 words. The experience, stirred up her desire to acquire knowledge. Beginning in 1887, Keller's teacher, helped her make tremendous progress with her ability to communicate, and Keller went on to college, graduating in 1904. She was the first deaf, blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. She was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. During her lifetime, she received many honours in recognition of her accomplishments.

In 1896, she attended the Cambridge School for Young Ladies, a preparatory school for women. As her story became known to the general public, Keller began to meet famous and influential people. One of them was the writer Mark Twain, who was very impressed with her. They became friends. Twain introduced her to his friend Henry H. Rogers, a Standard Oil executive. Rogers was so impressed with Keller's talent, drive and determination that he agreed to pay for her to attend Radcliff College. There, she was accompanied by Sullivan, who sat by her side to interpret lectures and texts.

By this time, Keller had mastered several methods of communication, including touch-lip reading, Braille, speech, typing and finger-spelling. With the help of Sullivan, Keller wrote her first book, The Story of My Life. It covered her transformation from childhood to 21-year-old college student. Sullivan continued to be Keller's guide and mentor. Keller, then, progressed to become a famous writer and a role model for millions, was not easy.

After college, Keller set out to learn more about the world and how she could help improve the lives of others. News of her story spread beyond Massachusetts and New England. She became a well-known celebrity and lecturer by sharing her experiences with audiences. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, Keller tackled social and political issues, including women's suffrage, non violence and birth control. She testified before Congress, strongly advocating improving the welfare of blind people. In 1920, she helped found the American Civil Liberties Union.

When the American Federation for the Blind was established in 1921, Keller had an effective national outlet for her efforts. She became a member in 1924, and participated in many campaigns to raise awareness, money and support for the blind.

In 1936, Keller's beloved teacher and devoted companion, Anne Sullivan, died. She had experienced health problems for several years and, in 1932, lost her eyesight completely. In 1946, Keller was appointed counsellor of international relations for the American Foundation of Overseas Blind. Between 1946 and 1957, she travelled to 35 countries on five continents. In 1955, at age 75, Keller boarded a ship on the longest and most exhausting trip of her life: a 40,000-mile, five-month trek across Asia. Through her many speeches and appearances, she brought inspiration and encouragement to millions of people.

Keller suffered a series of strokes in 1961, and spent the remaining years of her life at her home in Connecticut. During her lifetime, she received many honours in recognition of her accomplishments, including the Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal in 1936, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964. She also received honorary doctoral degrees from Temple University and Harvard University and from the universities of Glasgow, Scotland; Berlin, Germany; Delhi, India; and Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. Additionally, she was named an Honorary Fellow of the Educational Institute of Scotland.

Keller died in her sleep on June 1, 1968, just a few weeks before her 88th birthday. During her remarkable life, Keller stood as a powerful example of how determination, hard work, and imagination can allow an individual to triumph over adversity.

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow."

– Helen Keller

Vishwamitra

Sham S. Misri

(The King Who Became a Great Sage)

Lineage:

Kusha-Kushanabar- Kadhi – Kaushika (Vishwamitra)

Vishwamitra was one of the great sages of India. He was a Kshatriya King, also called Kaushika. He was the great-grandson of sage Kusha. One of the four sons of Kusha was named Kushanabar, who performed a sacrifice and obtained a son and named him Kadhi. It was king Kadhi son who was called Kaushika or Vishwamitra.

Kaushika succeeded his father to the kingdom and ruled it ably. He was well liked by his people. Once he was on a tour of his kingdom, listening to the complaints of his subjects, and issuing orders to remedy them. He finally came upon the hermitage of the great sage Vashishta. He was at once impressed by the atmosphere of tranquility and peace that surrounded this place. Spring was in full bloom here and all the animals were seen to be living together in complete harmony. The chant of the Vedas filled the air and many sages were seen to be indulging in various rituals and penances. The king was received by Vashishta and everyone was lavishly entertained by the sage. The king was surprised that living in such a remote place, the sage was able to conjure up a magnificent feast for his army.

He expressed his surprise to the sage. Vashishta said, "O King, this feast that you have shared with your kinsmen, has been provided by my cow ‘Nandini’, who was gifted to me by Indra. You must know that she is the daughter of Indra's cow Kamadhenu. She provides me with everything that I need."

Kaushika was filled with wonder when he heard this. He began to think that possessing this cow would mean a lot to him; after all, the sage did not have to provide food and sustenance for a large army! He expressed a desire to the sage for obtaining the cow’ Nandini’ from him. Vashishta was polite, but steadfast in his refusal. Vashishta would not be tempted by huge wealth that was made by Kaushika.

The king grew very angry. He insulted the sage with harsh words. The king ordered his soldiers to seize the cow, and drive it to his kingdom. By his yogic powers, the great sage Vashishta brought forth an entire army of fierce warriors. They fought the army of Kaushika and defeated them thoroughly. Kaushika was captured and presented before Vashishta. The sage pardoned the king and sent him away with words of advice.

This incident made a deep impression on Kaushika, the King. He realized that the power obtained by penances was greater than mere physical might. He renounced his kingdom and began his quest to become a greater sage than Vashishta. He took on the name Vishwamitra.

One of Vishwamitra's chief faults was his short temper. He was very quick to anger and sometimes uttered curses on helpless victims, thereby depleting his yogic powers obtained by much penance. People feared his temper and prayed that their actions might not get misconstrued by the touchy sage.

After many prayers and austerities, Vishwamitra obtained the title of Brahmarishi from Vashishta himself. During this time he had a daughter named Shakuntala (who appears in the Mahabharata), with the Menaka, an Apsara in the court of Indra.

He is also famous for creating the Trishanku Swarga (Heaven), a rival Swargaloka, for a king named Trishanku. This King wanted to ascend heaven in his mortal body. He was sent back by Indra saying that only after discarding his earthly body could he aspire to heaven. Trishanku approached several sages with his request, but only Vishwamitra was able to oblige him. Even then it was not an unqualified success, as he had to be suspended midway between heaven and earth. Finally he was transformed into a constellation.