Travels in Tibet

Mar 11

Sunday

Post a Comment March 11, 2018 – 1:11 am | Permalink |

A book excerpt from My Search in Tibet for the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel

by Peter Mt. Shasta

As the monks chanted over and over I joined in. Spiritual energy filled my mind and body. As my eyes were closing, the naljorpa who had given me the slip earlier suddenly slid onto the adjacent cushion. As I turned in awe he deflected my attention from him to the statue of Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche (the guru that is a precious jewel). Then he tapped his finger on my chest and said, “God, guru, self…all one.”

Then he took the mala from around his neck and, holding a bead between his thumb and forefinger, began chanting. With each repetition, he advanced another bead of the mala.

Focusing on the guru as an aspect of myself, I continued chanting in the realization Padmasambhava was seated before me and that his consciousness and mine were one. The formerly inert statue seemed to come to life, and his energy penetrated my being. As I heard the sound Om, a beam of white light shot from his forehead into mine, and the Sanskrit symbol of that word appeared in the center of my head. Rays of light emanated from that Om into limitless space for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Padmasambhava, Guru Rinpoche

Next came the sound Ah, as a beam of ruby light activated my throat center, and its symbol appeared also, radiating rays of red light. This was followed by Hung, with a blue light flowing from Guru Rinpoche’s heart to my heart. That sapphire blue Sanskrit letter arose in my heart, radiating blue light into space, and my heart filled with compassion.

The form of Guru Rinpoche grew brighter, gradually becoming a being of pure light. Rays of wisdom, empowerment, and compassion radiated without limit. Then his form dissolved into a golden orb, and that orb entered my heart.

“Oh, I AM Guru Rinpoche!” I gasped, finally realizing what the naljorpa meant by his assertion that God, guru, and self, are one. Not only my self, but everyone’s self are God and Guru, the universal guru that is everywhere, and is called the precious jewel.

The room fell silent, almost shocking after the unremitting noise of the drums, horns, and cymbals. I turned to ask the naljorpa what to expect next, but he was gone, perhaps having slipped out while my eyes were closed. I got up, hoping I would find him outside so I could follow him back to his cave, but when I left the monastery there was no trace. I wanted to talk to him about these tantric practices and find out what had happened in the shrine room of the nunnery this morning. However, having passed out from lack of oxygen earlier, I did not want to risk hiking in the mountains alone and trying to find his cave. I was hungry, and so began the trek back down the rugged path, hoping we still had a good supply of tsampa.

Peter Mt. Shasta first met Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche at Lama Foundation in New Mexico in 1971, a meeting he later wrote about in his book, Search for the Guru. In later years, he took his Bodhisattva vows with the Sakyong at Karmê Chöling.