Vighizzolo (Cantù)

Vighizzolo (Cantù)







TSERINMA AND THE
MUDRA PRACTICE
Obeisance to all Gurus
L ATE on the night of the eighth day of the Month of the Fire
Chicken, a great light shone upon Milarepa's quiet hermitage in
Chu Bar.1 Milarepa then sensed a fragrant odor he had never smelled
before and heard the sound of approaching voices. While he was won-
dering about them, the Auspicious Lady of Long Life (Tserinma], well-
dressed and wearing beautiful ornaments, appeared with her sisters-
one bringing various kinds of incense; one, many delicious foods and
drinks; one, musical instruments; another, fine and pretty clothes; and
still another, beautiful flowers. They all bowed down before the Jet-
sun, circumambulated him many times, and offered him desirable ob-
lations conjured by their miraculous powers. Then they sang in chorus:
Oh perfect, precious, destined and well-endowed
Guru,
Is "Laughing Vajra" the name that Buddhas and
Gurus call you?
Did not your parents name you "Toubagha,''2
While people call you "The Great Accomplished
Repa"?
Are you not the one with three wondrous names?
To the left of the mountain, Lhaman Jalmo,
Stands your hut by the bank of Lodahan River.
The King of the Nagas sounded
His magic conch-shell trumpet,
And into a wish-fulfilling Palace
Was this hut transformed.
357
THE HUNDRED THOUSAND SONGS OF MILAREPA
On this river-bank in Medicine Valley,
You, a wondrous yogi,
Industriously practice the Pinnacle Teachings.
Renouncing the Eight Worldly Desires,
From SaqJ.sflric temples you are freed.
Through our wondrous powers
We five girls have come
To praise and sing for you
With sweet words and tuneful voices.
We represent the four known types of womanhood
Called Lotus, Conch, Mark, and the Elephant.3
Pray practice Karma Mudra with us.
Will you grant our prayer?
Do you know well
The four techniques of Karma Mudra
Called falling, holding, turning back, and
spreading-
If so, you may apply them now,
For your servants are prepared.
It is said in the Supreme Tantra,
[That the qualified yogi] should attract the
maids of Heaven,
Of Nagas, of Asuras, or of human kind.
It also says that of all services
The best is Karma Mudra.
Thus we come here this evening.
Pray witness this, oh great Yogi,
Whose naked body is full of splendor
and radiance.
The Jetsun answered:
At this late hour
I hear your tuneful voices raised,
And your thoughts expressed in song.
[From whence come you, fair ladies?]
Does not your abode
Stand on the shining summit,
The Snow Mountain's crystal peak?
Towers not a palace
Under the canopy of clouds
'Midst the flower-galaxy of star