Verses of Nascence

“ An Astronaut’s View of the Himalayas”

I. Reflection
Naught but void at inception
Of primordial being’s conception.
Then father’s light and mother’s rays,
Thus brightness inlaid
What darkness portrayed.
Hoar frost formed of a cold wind
And with pure dew did blend.
There did a lake appear,
Mirror-like, pure, and clear.

II. Dichotomy
By crystalline shore formed an egg round,
Whose membrane two small birds did surround,
One black one white, when no more bound
One shined bright providing white light,
The other pervaded darkness and fright.
Thence where light and darkness coalesced
Three eggs of stark color were impressed.
A divine rock from the outer shell, which was white,
From mid membrane the “Throne-Division’s Realm” of light,
And hybrid yak-cow from inner fluid of egg conch-white.

III. Senses
Three beings from the inner shell diverged,
Thus world god, all wise defender, and master emerged,
And whence the black egg cracked
“Proud Man” and “Heap of color Black.”
From speckled egg shining “Wish Requesting Man:”
Bearing no hand nor arm to stretch and span;
Without an eye
With which to visualize;
Without an ear
With which to hear;
No nose with which to smell;
No tongue with which to taste.
Without senses to quell,
Nor foot on which to walk the waste.
Naught but spirit with thought
That served the same as senses wrought.

IV. Himālaya
To his left the world god placed turquoise and gold
And a wishing prayer there he told.
Whereupon a golden mountain ascended
And a turquoise valley descended.
The entirety of the Ch’a race originate from that place.
Deposited then he a conch and a carnelian to his right,
There  a conch mountain and a carnelian mountain were sighted.
The entirety of the Mu race originate from that place.
In front he laid a crystal and a stone which contained ore,
And spoke a wishing prayer, whereupon a crystal cliff and light-lake of lore.
In this way, the Tzug race originated from that place.
From the Mu would arise the enlightened B’ön-po,
Arising from the Ch’a men with hair color of crow.
The entire Tzug race became the animals low.

V. བོད (Bod)
Then the Mu-son, Tr’ül-bu wang-dän, and the woman Nyän,
From the carnelian valley and the conch mountain,
United the kings of Nepal, Tr’om, Tag-zig, and Khotan.
They morphed into horses and joined to bring forth
The white-footed pony and wild white yak of the north.
Then transformed they into sheep to bear the lamb
That would transcend to be the fair and majestic ram.
That the genesis of the whole Mu-race of man.

VI. Thirty-seven
When the Ch’a-son, Chi-tzug gyäl-wa,
took the conch-woman Rung-mo,
Tag-tsa wäl-wöl from the Ch’a race arose.
When Tag-tea wäl-wöl took the Tsam J’a-khyung-ma
The four brothers from the Ch’a race awoke.
When Ch’a-la dr’än-shing swore falsely this genealogy broke.
The divine host of the land from Wö-de descended,
Ch’a lord Yab-lha dal-dr’ug united with Goddess T’ang transcended,
From them were born nine spirit sons.
When he the love of Srin demon had won,
From them would be born nine spirit sons.
The child Lhang-lhang was born when he seduced a Nyän demon.
Then coupled he with demon of Mu to sire twelve Mu grandchildren.

VII. Auspicious
Ting-tr’i tzän-war lha, the youngest in the fifth generation,
Bore eighteen beautiful body marks of veneration.
For atop his head was a golden stupa, like a full moon, span-high.
To the left something like a rising sun above his right eye.
To the right a white moon as if in moonlight above his left eye.
A small black dot where the two brows nigh.
To the left, over the right shoulder was a likeness of the B’ön temple K’o-ma ru-ring. 
To the right, above the left shoulder, a crystal-like stupa of nine rings.
A tiger crouching upon the soil he bore above the upper part of his chest below his neck.
To the left above the right ribs was a white hair fleck.
And to the right above the left ribs a black hair fleck.
On the bottom part of his right leg appeared a serpent which coiled downwards.
On the sole’s arch of the left foot something which resembled a frog jumping upwards.
On the back of the left leg and furnished with eyes was an iron bee.
The venerable species of earth masters would descended from he.

VIII. United
The youngest of the thirty-seven,
The world god, Ne-tr’om la-tr’a, thus breven,
Set forth from his father’s mansion
To propagate the human race’s expansion.
Thirteen celestial rungs he traversed,
The nine rungs of the spirit’s ladder he came down.
And in the spring month, Sa-g’ahe, came to the earth
To arrive upon the mountain Mog-p’o’s crown.
The earth he wandered and on many a site he pondered,
A woman weaving he saw whilst in reflection,
Approaching she, distinguished by a milky imperfection,
Before her loom he sat in rest.
Therein the woman asked in quest,
“From whence have you come when sun below,
And wherefore go whilst the Sun sets low?”
“I am Ne-tr’om la-to’a, the youngest of the thirty-seven.
Sent was I from my father’s, Yab-lha däl-dr’ug, house in heaven
In order to propagate the human race.”
With ill intent a Srin demon appeared on seeing his face.
The woman in an instant produced a monkey in his place,
And in fabric upon the loom hid her guest without trace.
“Where to did the man before the loom disappear?”
“Intent thus, I saw nothing but the monkey here.”
The demon seized the monkey and there abandon,
But his demon hound would not go in spite his command.
With that which fastened the fabric on to loom in hand,
The hound’s teeth she shattered when mighty blow she did land,
And demon dog’s eyes she gouged out beside.
Then did the peg of the instrument fall aside,
“I as a woman must be very grateful to man,
And you as a man must be very grateful to woman.
What wrong wrong and right right.
The magical flesh of both of us should unite.”

IX. Earth Born
When their magical flesh had joined, consummation done,
Their union brought forth into the world three sons.
But T’ing-to through water would meet his demise,
And T’ing-mig by fire death would realize.
T’ing-g’e took the Ch’a princess for wife, they Bö-dzom la-tr’om would bear.
Then he joined with the Mu-consort and Tr’i-ma became their care.
Having joined with Tr’i-mo, the Tr’i children named Hor came to be.
He united with Yig- na-ma, to beget three, Bö, Jang and Li.
With a Nyän demon, brought forth they a monkey, an ox, a badger and a bear.
These the four non-humans, but human siblings of the world they share.

MBr Featured Soundtrack: The Darjeeling Limited.

> SEQ 220716
> mbr playlist wesost play 
“The Darjeeling Limited” Soundtrack Album Cover
>print lyrics 'Where do you go' by Peter Sarstedt
-----------------------------------
You talk like Marlene Dietrich
And you dance like Zizi Jeanmaire
Your clothes are all made by Balmain
And there's diamonds and pearls in your hair, yes, there are
You live in a fancy apartment
Off the Boulevard St. Michel
Where you keep your Rolling Stones records
And a friend of Sacha Distel, yes, you do

But where do you go to, my lovely
When you're alone in your bed?
Tell me the thoughts that surround you
I want to look inside your head, yes, I do

I've seen all your qualifications
You got from the Sorbonne
And the painting you stole from Picasso
Your loveliness goes on and on, yes, it does
When you go on your summer vacation
You go to Juan-les-Pins
With your carefully designed topless swimsuit
You get an even suntan on your back, and on your legs
And when the snow falls you're found in St. Moritz
With the others of the jet set
And you sip your Napoleon brandy
But you never get your lips wet, no, you don't

But where do you go to, my lovely
When you're alone in your bed?
Won't you tell me the thoughts that surround you?
I want to look inside your head, yes, I do

Your name it is heard in high places
You know the Aga Khan
He sent you a race horse for Christmas
And you keep it just for fun, for a laugh, ha-ha-ha
They say that when you get married
It'll be to a millionaire
But they don't realize where you came from
And I wonder if they really care, or give a damn

Where do you go to, my lovely
When you're alone in your bed?
Tell me the thoughts that surround you
I want to look inside your head, yes, I do

I remember the back streets of Naples
Two children begging in rags
Both touched with a burning ambition
To shake off their lowly-born tags, they tried
So look into my face, Marie-Claire
And remember just who you are
Then go and forget me forever
But I know you still bear the scar, deep inside, yes, you do

I know where you go to, my lovely
When you're alone in your bed
I know the thoughts that surround you
'Cause I can look inside your head

Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na-na
Na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na-na

Samaya Saranagamana

Dhamma wheel

Intent on arousing bodhichitta in meditation beyond conceptualization, and dedicating practice’s merits accumulation. 

With great adoration , I go to refuge in the Guru, embodiment of Buddha , the Dharma, of method and wisdom, and Sangha with desire to mindfully develop morality, concentration, and wisdom until enlightened by clear light of pure perfected renunciation, meta boddhicitta, and prajnaparamita for the benefit all sentient beings.

May all find refuge on the path of liberation. May all be without hate, greed, and illusion. May I be of any means to such end. For as long as space remains, as long as beings endure, so too may I abide to dispel sufferings of Samsara.

Thus motivated I meditate on emptiness, liberation from cyclic existence for all beings.

samaya gya gya gya


Yoke

Whom from suffering would be freed,
faith their seed.
Control, the rain they need.
Yoke and plow, understanding.
Plow shaft, modesty outstanding.

That that binds yoke, the mind.
Mindfulness, both goad
and plowshare in kind.

Thus bound, strive on toward liberation,
beyond sorrow and lamentation.

From…

Practice of the ten, realization
    of the fabric of perfection 
The dependence on condition,
    self-deluded perception,
    inclination toward volition
Cessation of causation,
    revelation self-liberation.

Who knows goes

Who none knows
Where goes 
What realizes
Who arises
Who deceives whom
By what deception
When who and whom
Conceptual perceptions
Who realizes
What arises
Who goes 
Where none knows

On the Prince Christened Suttra

Preface by the editor

Though lost to time, the ”Prince Christened” suttra is said to have been a teaching on mindfulness and impermanence. Of it only the following phrase has  been preserved, “Permanent mind mindful impermanence.” The phrase itself was preserved as the title to a commentary on the suttra attributed to  Gacchami, a babado mystic from before the War of Ascension. The commentaries  have also been lost, but the teachings based on them were passed down for many generations and were preserved  in “As recited by my Teacher and retold so as I would remember,”  a short narrative by an anonymous student of the Saranagamana Yoga Academy.

Forward

Herein are my recollections and reflections of a teaching from my Master.

I.  As recited by my Teacher and retold so as I would remember.

Once, while taking refuge at Mahabodi under shade of an Oak, I sat in adoration near my master. Realizing I was troubled he asked, “What afflicts you, son?”

“Master, I have studied the Suttras, Tantras and their many commentaries and I see the truth in them without direct realization. But  I feel overwhelmed in my studies. With so much to retain and yet even more to attain. Teacher, with so much in mind, I find it difficult to be mindful.”

Here follows  what was said on the “Prince Christened” suttra…

“What one fool can realize so too can another.”

So said my Teacher when he conveyed to me what was passed to him, regarding the teachings on the “Permanent mind mindful impermanence.”

“By solemn vow, from a base of refuge, and paying homage to my Teacher, I now convey what was then conveyed.”

OM

“Homage to the great perfection.”

“Unwatched the mind flutters like a leaf in the wind. As an Oak needs its roots so too the mindful mind.”

“Thus mindful of breath, root the mind.”

“So rooted…”

“Be mindful of the difficulty in attaining this human existence, just that be mindful that.”

“Be mindful of the sublime brevity that is human existence, just that be mindful that.”

“Be mindful of cause and consequence universal, just that be mindful that.”

“Be mindful the many perils in cyclic existence, just that be mindful that.”

“Thus mindful awaken the compassionate mind.”

“And how does one train to be mindful and thus awaken the compassionate mind?”

“Train the mind thus, with resolve to accomplish the highest good. Thus mindful, accomplish the highest good.”

“Train the mind thus, with regard to inferiority of self. Thus mindful,  appreciate others.”

“Train the mind thus, to watch for the arising of disturbing thoughts. Thus mindful, vanquish the arising of disturbing thoughts.”

“Train the mind thus, to care for the disillusioned. Thus mindful, be compassionate with the disillusioned.”

“Train the mind thus, to take on defeat and offer up accomplishment. Thus mindful, attain the greatest victory.”

“Train the mind thus, to see a spiritual friend in all. Thus mindful, share in the great perfection.”

“Train the mind thus, to be of any means to your many mothers. Thus mindful, nourish the awakening mind.”

“Train the mind thus, to see past all illusion. Thus mindful, abide in clear light of perfected wisdom.”

“Thus trained and thus mindful, free the mind of all attachment. All else are but thoughts bound by the eight-worldly concerns, even that just taught.”

“The mindful mind is an awakening mind without perception of self, of being, of soul, of person, of phenomena or what is other than phenomena.  Without perception of perceived or not perceived. Without perception of what is and what is not. Without perception I and not.’

“Give rise to a clear and pure mind, one that abides not in aggregate.”

“Here ends a practice on developing mindfulness of “Permanent mind mindful impermanence.” 

Still I doubted my mettle to be mindful of all that was taught. As if sensing my persisting doubt my teacher drew what appeared an X in the dirt, but from my vantage it looked more a cross.

“Be mindful that, just that.”

And, as if it were a bullseye, I was stuck by a diamond mid-brow.

“Better yet…” he then said, while erasing the X with a “Phat!”

Having closed his eyes, he sat. 

I pondered my master’s words and joined in mindful meditation.

II. Afterword

From heart of a fool
As play on light perceived,
From empty form conceived,
In self believe.

Empty Couplets

Floor, roof and ceiling in their place, 
Where absent provide living space. 

Dense nucleus surround by electron cloud,
Empty space abound in form compound.   

Silence, expanse for sound. 
Space provides matter bounds.  

From empty mind thoughts,
Wherein self oft sought. 

Campeyya Jātaka (506)

Dhamma wheel

From The Jātakas: Birth Stories of the Bodhisatta

[herein paraphrased]

Once while residing in Jetavana Grove, the Teacher told this story on observing the precepts of uposatha.

Once the king of Magadha, at constant war with the king of Anga, obtaining the help of the Naga king who dwelt in the river Campa, defeated his rival. Thereafter he held an annual festival in honour of the Naga king.

The Bodhisatta, a very poor man, saw Campeyyas splendor on his way to the feast and longed for a like greatness. As a result, after death, he was born in the Naga world where he became king under the name of Campeyya.

Realizing what had happened, he felt disgust at his position as a Naga and made many attempts to observe religious vows, hoping, in this way, to gain release. But he was foiled in his efforts by his consort Sumana.

At last he came to the world of men, where he kept fast on uposatha days, lying on an ant hill. There he was taken captive by a snake charmer who tortured him in various ways and took him about, exhibiting him for gain. By certain tokens of which Campeyya had earlier warned her, Sumana knew that her husband had been taken captive and, after much searching, she discovered him just as the snake charmer was about to give a performance before Uggasena, king of Benares.

The whole story was then revealed, and the snake charmer set Campeyya free, on the command of Uggasena. That Uggasena might be convinced of the truth of the story, he was invited to the Naga world, where he and his retinue were lavishly entertained.

”You, who have acquired magical powers and great potency, have all the pleasures of the senses at your disposal. Nāga king, why do you proclaim the human realm better than this?”

”Nowhere but in the realm of humans is there purity and self-control. Having attained human birth I will make an end death and rebirth.”

The story was related by the Teacher in connection with the observance of uposatha vows.

“In this way the wise abandoned the nāga realm and kept the uposatha. Devadatta was the snake charmer and Sariputta was Uggasena. Rahulamata was Sumana. I was the nāga king, Campeyya.”


Glossary:

nāga: legendary beings, part snake and part human, endowed with supernatural powers. 
uposatha: day of purification and observation of the precepts, falling on day of new moon, full moon, and quarter moon.