Chapter 13 - Staglungpa (ii): stag lung pa at phag mo gru

Then he joined a bon po couple, and after they had covered the worst part of the road, he got a glimpse of the white washed walls of the monastery (phag mo gru). He went straight towards the gate, and was about to enter it, when 'brog chung pa barred the road. Then sing ston received him, and he met the bla ma in the afternoon (dro rting).

He offered the bla ma a piece of gold, and ‘gro mgon (phag mo gru pa) inquired: "Are you not tired?"

He replied:

"I was almost carried away by the stream, but my horse put its foot on a patch of dry ground and pulled me out."

Phag mo gru pa said:

"I was there at that time for you were to come, even if I were residing in Vajrāsana. For I am not (your) Teacher of this rebirth only, for I have been the Teacher who had produced knowledge in you!" (nyams rtogs bskyed pa'i bla ma)

Then at the time of the offering ceremony, ‘gro mgon said:

"When the new-comer had come to the door, but did not yet enter inside, the new-comer’s double separated from his body and was absorbed in me! Later, you will gather round yourself numerous priests, among whom there will be some equal to you."

Stag lung thang pa thought:

"If so, will there be anyone greater than me in this country?"

‘Gro mgon said to the attendant sbas sgom:

"O sbas sgom! How this new-comer resembles bya yul pa! A!"

After three months he (stag lung thang pa) thought that he could cure himself by prayer, even if his brain were to flow out.

With one golden zho he prepared a maṇḍala and offered it to ‘gro mgon, and told him:

"I request your blessing only! I do not ask for precepts."

‘Gro mgon smiled and accepted the gold. Having given back the maṇḍala, he said:

"There is a saying that through faith one is able to restore health! Offer the maṇḍala and prayers! You still have many things to see!"

Then on one occasion he told him: "Keep whatever doctrine you have heard! It is not essential that the line should originate with me. All these doctrines will be needed by you," "In Tibet," said ‘gro mgon, "there was no one more disinterested than zhu byas dngos grub, but he possessed a lu yi pa^[1] . In India there was no one more disinterested than bi ru pa (Virūpa), but he possessed an Aṣṭasāhasrikā (-Prajñāpāramitā)."

Again on one occasion he said:

"Precepts mean the worship of one’s Teacher. Hidden precepts mean one’s individual experience."

(Stag lung thang pa) used to say:

"From then on, there was not a single śloka, uttered by him, on which I did not write a note."

Once ‘gro mgon bestowed (on him) a certain precept, and stag lung thang pa fearing to forget it, wrote it out on a wall, and then went outside. When he again came inside, he saw the precept, and henceforth did not forget it.

Three years after his coming to phag mo gru, ‘gro mgon told him:

"Even if you were to go now, your abbot and Teacher will come (to you) for instruction in the Doctrine."

On another occasion he said:

"You will act as the master of my Doctrine!"

‘Gro mgon told him: "Become a monk!"

He replied: "I am going to practise meditation. Pray do not ordain me!" "It does not matter”, said ‘gro mgon, "dpal rgwa lo had been a monk also, and yet he had practised meditation for seven years at gnam mtsho," and he added: "Now a-days one should follow the practice of great men!"

On one occasion, when stag lung thang pa was resting on his bed, he suddenly recollected a chapter on religion previously unknown to him.

Then ‘gro mgon came in carrying a staff, and pointing with the staff at his heart, said:

"No one knows it, but me!"

One night he saw in a dream that his father had given him a te'u chu (a vessel). Said ‘gro mgon:

"This indicates that you will enjoy an unexhaustible store of food."

After that he also saw in a dream that his father had given him a key and since that time it became unnecessary for him to make any efforts (in his meditation).

At the age of 24, he proceeded to phag mo gru at harvest time. He spent six years at phag mo gru. Dpal phag mo gru pa having passed away, he spent a month at phag mo gru.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

R: name of a book which belongs to the Saṃvara Cycle