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The Epic of Gesar of Ling

Page 23

by Robin Kornman


  Without considering the six grains of the three months of autumn,

  Why toil in the fields in the three months of spring?

  Without considering the abundance of the plunder,

  Why wave your arms to summon enemies and disputes?

  Without considering the benefit of others,

  Why single-pointedly practice to try to accomplish enlightenment?

  Failing to know the minds of those to be tamed, one is not a buddha.

  Failing to fulfill the welfare of others is not the sacred dharma.

  Failing to lead others to liberation is not the sangha.

  Therefore, in the snow land of Tibet,

  The field of the Great Compassionate One Avalokiteśvara—

  Although the sun of dharma arises,

  The classes of māras threaten to eclipse it

  Through the perverted aspirations of the nine samayaviolating demon brothers.

  If the dark side is not annihilated at its very root,

  The country of Tibet will become a land of darkness

  And sentient beings will be led to the hells below.

  In order for the king and ministers

  To tame these hordes of māras,

  The king should be like a cakravartin ruler,

  His outer ministers must abide in the borderlands,

  And his inner ministers must abide close to him.

  Then, the object of veneration Sergyi Dogcan [Golden-Faced One]

  Will emanate as the elder uncle, the senior advisor [of Gesar].c

  The Brahman Halikapa

  Will emanate as the fatherd of the paternal lineage of the Mukpo clan.

  The general of unrivaled warriorship

  Will emanate as the older brother,e like a tiger in his prime.

  The others, outer and inner ministers,

  Will emanate in the forms of a harmonious brotherhood.

  The time to benefit others has arrived.

  Without distraction keep this in the core of your heart.

  Thus the sound of this song invokes the mindstreams of the bodhisattvas.f

  Among the royal ancestors of the Mukpo Dong clan, Chöphen Nagpo [Dharma Benefit Black] had three wives: Serza, Omza, and Changza, each of whom bore three sons. The son of Ser was Lhayag Darkar [Good Divine White Silk], the son of Om was Trichang Pagyal [Wolf Throne Victorious Warrior], and the son of Chang was Dragyal Bum-me [Victorious over Enemies Hundred Thousand Flames]. The lineages descending from these three became the Greater, Lesser, and Middle Lineages of the Mukpos.

  From the Lesser Lineage came the son of King Dragyal Bum-me, Thoglha Bum [Lightning God Hundred Thousand]. In turn Thoglha Bum’s son was Chöla Bum [For the Dharma Hundred Thousand]. Chöla Bum had three wives. They were Rongza, Gaza, and Muza, these three. Rongza’s son was an incarnation of the Paṇḍita Sergyi Dogcan, born as Chief [Chipön] Rongtsha Tragen.

  His intelligence and knowledge8 were as bright as day,

  His skill and compassion were like the springtime warmth of earth and water,

  His commands were straightforward like lines drawn with a ruler,

  He could distinguish true from false actions like splitting bamboo.

  Unruly strong men he could yoke and suppress,

  Like a parent he protected the weak and humble.

  Of the brethren he was the chief,

  At meetings his was the final9 word,

  When taming the enemies he was the general of all bandits.10

  Although he was born in the clan of the Lesser Lineage, he was respected as the principal chieftain of all of Ling.

  To Gaza was born a son, Yu-gyal [Turquoise King], who, while warring with Hor, was lost to the Hor in battle. To Muza was born an emanation of the Brahmin Legjin.g He was named Senglön [Lion Minister]. At birth he was:

  Outwardly gentle like a white silk scarf,

  Inwardly gentle like white butter pills,h

  A gentle warmth like that of the springtime sun.

  His mind was loose and relaxed like a knot in a scarf,

  His body was a heap of splendor, and

  His speech like a majestic melodious reed.

  He mastered the magical luminosity of enlightened mind.

  He was born as a fortress of many dralas,

  As a copper castle surrounded by wermas, and

  As a life stone that the samaya-bound protectors take as their support.

  Chipön married a Tibetan girl named Metog Tashi-tso [Flower Auspicious Lake]. Their eldest son was Yuphen Tag-gyal [Turquoise Benefit Tiger King], their middle son was Lenpa Chögyal [Simple-Minded Dharma King], and their youngest son was Nangchung Yutag [Sweet Youth Turquoise Tiger]. They had one daughter Lhamo Yudrön [Goddess Turquoise Torch], making four children.

  Senglön wed a Chinese girl, Lhakar Drönma [Divine White Torch]. In the year of the Female Water Ox during the twelfth monthi their son was born.

  His face was like the moon,

  His mind as vast as the sky.

  All of his actions were dharma activity.

  He was a bitter thorn-bush to his enemies,

  And a white silken scarf to his friends.

  As a warrior he was a ferocious tigress.

  He was like a falcon,11 expert in the six skills of a warrior.

  Everyone in his family called him Zhal-lu Nyima Rangshar [Face of the Self-Arising Sun]. Outside he was given the name Bumpa Gyatsha Zhalkar [Chinese Nephew White Face of the Bum Family].

  For thirteen days the gurus did long-life and prosperity ceremonies, and the fathers and uncles made aspiration prayers, while the mothers and aunts danced and sang to celebrate his birth.

  The name of the Greater Lineage’s leader was Lhabu Namkha Sengzhal [Prince Sky-Lion Face]. The leader of the Middle Lineage was Lingchen Tharpa Sönam [Great Ling Meritorious Liberation] and the leader of the Lesser Lineage was Chipön. These three leaders offered an Auspicious-by-Day scarf to the neck of Zhal-lu. Then Chipön said, “O great gathering of divine subjects! Among merits this is the first sign of the spread of authentic presence, the field of power. Among dreams this is the first time that dreams have come true, and this is the first time to tame the enemies of the four directions. Now listen without distraction to the silk scarf of this song.” And then the three leaders sang:

  Ala Thala Thala the song is sung.

  The song is offered to the great god Brahmā,

  Offered to the local deity Magyal Pomra,12

  To the strict and mighty zodor Gedzo,

  And to the god of great ones, Nyentag Marpo [Red Mountain Tiger].

  May their great sovereignty spread across the sky;

  May the great vessel of the earth hold this all.

  In case you don’t recognize this place,

  It is Kyidsö Yag-gi Khado [Conjunction of Happiness and Leisure],

  The gathering place called Tagthang Tramo [Colorful Tiger Plain].

  Inside the great four-cornered yak hair tent

  Is a place of joyful reunions.

  If you don’t know the likes of me—

  I am the king chief of the Rong clan;

  My partners in this song are the leaders of the Greater and Middle Lineages.

  We three brother leaders offer this song.

  Today the stars in the sky are excellent;

  On earth the time is right and the signs are excellent.

  At this time when the three excellent signs converge

  We must celebrate the birth of the leader of Mupa, Zhalkar;

  The people of White Ling must perform song and dance.

  May the gods and gurus perform longevity, prosperity, and purification rituals,

  May the mothers and aunts make excellent aspiration prayers, and

  May the fathers and brothers be open-minded with skillful means.

  According to the sayings passed on by ancient Tibetans:

  If you supplicate, honor, and make offerings

  To the gods, jewels, and dear leaders, these three,
/>   All your needs and wishes will be fulfilled.

  If you diligently accomplish trade, husbandry, and taming your enemies, these three,

  Then prosperity will come.

  Horses, spouses, and homes, these three,

  To adorn them and keep them clean is for your own good.

  It has been a custom in the land of Ling

  From the time of Ling Chöphen13 Nagpo until now,

  When the enemy came, we hoisted our spears as one,

  When goods came, it was a custom to portion them with the tip of a knife and share.

  The gifts for the birth celebration from the Greater Lineage of the Serpa are:

  Ten coins of yellow gold,

  Golden armor replete with silken ruffles,

  A golden helmet with a golden silken victory standard,

  A sword with a golden guard,

  A golden horse named Serja Dingdrö [Soaring Golden Bird Gait],

  A golden saddle with a golden bridle, and a gold crupper,

  All adorned with silken yellow scarves of auspiciousness;

  These are the ninefold offerings of yellow gold.

  The gifts for the birth celebration from the Middle Lineage of Ombu are:

  A stupa as white as a conch,

  A clockwise-turning melodious conch,

  Conch armor and a golden flowing robe,

  A conch helmet adorned with a white silk topknot,

  The sword Sampa Regchöd [Severs with a Thought]

  With a guard of refined white silver,

  The horse with a Mongolian gait Dawa’i Dogcan [White Moon Color].

  A silver saddle, silver bridle, and silver crupper

  Including the white scarf Auspicious-by-Day;

  These are the ninefold offerings of white conch.

  I, the chieftain of the Mu family of the Lesser Lineage,

  Offer white turquoise14 that resembles a drop of milk,

  Turquoise armor called Dzari Thogkheb [Crag Mountain Meteorite-Proof],

  A turquoise helmet called Namkha Lebchen [Vast as the Sky],

  Adorned with silk flags called Trinlang Mö [Rich like Massing Clouds],

  The ancestral wealth of Jurlha Bön [Coral Divine Chief] of Jang

  The chestnut steed with a turquoise-beaded mane and saddle adorned with turquoise,

  With matching turquoise bridle and crupper,

  With the sword Shapho Dumchöd [Dresses a Deer],

  Blue silken hand guard tie,

  Including the inner scarf from the fish15 Trawa Kha [Sparkling Mouth];16

  These are the ninefold offerings of turquoise blue

  Offered by the family of the Lesser Lineage for the birthday celebration.

  Then, although the subjects of the six tribes of Ling,

  Are divided into the Middle, Lesser, and Greater Lineages,

  Despite their names, one is not greater than the other in status or achievement.

  In the ancestral lineage of Chöphen Nagpo

  They were named so according to which of [their founding mothers] was first born,17

  And they all come from the same paternal tribe.

  These three golden flowers of the royal family

  Are like a single vase placed on the crown of the head.j

  Whatever words they speak are like amṛta on the tongue,

  Whatever actions they perform are for the general governance of the six districts.

  According to the ancient sayings of the Tibetans:

  In order to keep the square walls of a monastic college,

  The holder of the vase and the sutras and tantras

  Will be the one who is learned in the experience of the three trainings.

  When the exalted leader upholds the law of the land,

  The holder of the golden throne and status

  Will be the one who has vast knowledge, authentic presence, and political savvy.

  Therefore, we of the lineage of the white snow lion—

  It is better that our turquoise manes inhabit the snow mountains;

  We never thought to wander to the bustling town.

  We descendants of the lineage of the turquoise dragon—

  It is better that our roar dwells in the thundering clouds;

  We never thought to wander through foreign lands.

  So it is with the lineage sons of the Mukpo clan—

  It is better that we place yokes upon the enemy;

  We never thought that our own goal would not be accomplished.

  Nevertheless:

  The royal parasol of the sun

  Gives warmth to the four continents.

  Yet still, if the conch moon did not rise in the sky,

  Who could find their way in the pitch black of night?

  Although the stars sparkle, they would be of no help.

  Thus, the twelve countries of Jambudvīpa

  And the four borderlands that are the māra kingdoms

  Will be tamed by one who is sent from divine White Ling.

  When the warriors with form, the adversaries,

  And the champions of the enemy gather for battle,

  The three great chieftains of Ling will rise up like the sun.

  Then, placing a yoke upon the formless obstructing spirits,

  The demon harrying from behind,18 and on the gods, rākṣasas, and ghosts,

  He, though not human, will magically appear as a human boy.

  First, he will be the one the imperial gods bow to,

  Secondly, he is the one the body gods circumambulate,

  Third, the one to whom the nāga Tsugna makes offerings,

  And fourth, he is the one whose body has achieved miraculous powers.

  May he be born as an ornament to White Ling.

  Where in the lineage of the three brothers of Mukpo Dong

  He will be born, was set down long ago.

  All this is the fervent wish of Ling,

  And this wish has burst from our mouths

  As both an exclamation and a prophecy.

  By the truth of these words of excellent auspicious coincidence

  May the golden sun of the lineage of chieftains

  Cover the sky with its great sovereignty.

  May the great vessel of the earth hold this all.

  May whatever song is sung turn to the dharma.

  May these words be full of genuine meaning!

  If the song has caused confusion, we confess the fault.

  If the words have been but meaningless chatter, we beg your forgiveness.

  May the six districts of Ling hold this in their hearts.

  [Gyatsha Zhalkar visits the Emperor of China.]

  Then Upper, Middle, and Lower Ling celebrated the birth with abundant song and dance. As for Zhalkar, in one month’s time he grew more than other children would grow in a year. When Zhalkar came of age, the Emperor of China invited his three nephews to a feast: the son of Sadam of Jang, named Nyitri Karchen [Twenty Thousand Great Stars], the son of Achen of Hor, Lhabu Legpa [Excellent Prince], and the dear Zhalkar himself, the son of the Bumpa clan. He gave each of them the inner wealth from the natural resources of his own country. As principal gifts each one received a horse, a sword, and armor. Including gold, silver, tea, silk and so forth, about a hundred gifts were bestowed. Then he said, “O my three dear nephews, may your wishes be fulfilled! Listen to the white scarf of this song without distraction. Do not forget the fruit of this meaning—hold it in your minds. Here are three words of completely flawless advice.” Saying that he broke into song:

  Ala is the way the song begins,

  Thala is the sound of the melody.

  Undeceiving Refuge, Rare and Precious Three Jewels,

  Abide inseparably as my crown ornament.

  In case you don’t know what place this is,

  This is Trülgyi Potrang [The Magic Palace] of the Emperor of China.

  In case you don’t know the likes of me,

  In the vast azure firmament

  And on
the face of the dense earth,

  I am the ruler of China.

  Now, listen closely to what I say.

  The well-known proverbs of the ancients teach:

  Mount Meru, the ocean, and a great leader, these three—

  It is preferred that they be firm and unmoving.

  Conversation, counsel, and arrows, these three—

  It is preferred that they be straight, not crooked or bent.

  Lawsuits, bows, and lassos, these three—

  It is preferred that they bend wherever they are stretched.

  It is possible that there will be turmoil and battle between the great countries,

  But great leaders should be a single stable fortress.

  The paternal lineage of the Chinese is whiter than conch;

  Do not cut or carve this, for it is [precious] like gold.

  The three horses, Pheasant, Peacock, and Duck,

  Are the prosperity of the eastern country of China.

  These will be the horses beneath you, my three nephews.

  First the conch armor called Karmo Lhazang [Pure Benevolent God],

  Second the turquoise armor called Bumgyal Tongthub [One Hundred Thousand Victories and a Thousand Defeats],

  Third, armor of meteoric iron called Dzari Thogthub [Slate Mountain Lightning Proof]—

  These weapons were magically forged by the eight orders of nonhumans

  And are the life fortress that cannot be pierced by any swords.

  Oh my three dear ones, Zhal, Nyitri, and dear little Lha,

  I give you this armor as your companion for life;

  May it make your bodies invincible.

  East of China, so as to make this auspicious armor

  Three cranes were fed with iron dust;

  The iron dust that they vomited

  Was forged at the first pale light of dawn by a rākṣa blacksmith

  Into the sword Guzi Namkha Kyareng [Skydawn].

  Made from masculine metal, like the male wrathful ones,

  Feminine metal, like the laughter of the female wrathful ones,

 

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